How far do you agree with the view that the main reason Apartheid survived in the 1970s was because of the weakness of the international anti-Apartheid movement?
Level
Year Examined
2022
Topic
Apartheid
👑Complete Model Essay
How far do you agree with the view that the main reason Apartheid survived in the 1970s was because of the weakness of the international anti-Apartheid movement?
Introduction
The 1970s marked a pivotal period for Apartheid in South Africa. While the system faced growing international condemnation, it remained firmly entrenched within the country. This essay will argue that while the international anti-Apartheid movement's weakness contributed to the regime's survival, it was ultimately the internal repression of opposition movements within South Africa that played a more significant role.
Paragraph 1: Weakness of International Anti-Apartheid Movement
Point: The international anti-Apartheid movement, while gaining momentum, lacked the necessary teeth to significantly pressure the South African government during the 1970s.
Evidence: The United Nations imposed a voluntary arms embargo on South Africa in 1963, but this had limited impact. Crucially, comprehensive economic sanctions, including oil embargoes, were not implemented until the 1980s. Furthermore, Western nations, driven by Cold War politics and economic interests, often prioritized stability in the region over actively dismantling Apartheid.
Explanation: This lack of decisive action provided breathing room for the Apartheid regime. With limited economic pressure and continued access to international markets, the South African government could maintain its policies with relatively minimal consequences.
Paragraph 2: Limited Support from Neighboring Countries
Point: The proximity of neighboring African nations to South Africa might suggest a united front of opposition. However, this was not always the case, further hindering the anti-Apartheid movement's effectiveness.
Evidence: While some countries, like Tanzania and Zambia, actively supported the African National Congress (ANC) and other exiled opposition groups, others were more cautious. Geographical distance posed a challenge for some, limiting their ability to provide practical assistance. More importantly, many neighboring countries were economically reliant on South Africa, making them hesitant to take a strong stance against the regime for fear of economic repercussions.
Explanation: This lack of a unified regional response allowed South Africa to exploit divisions and undermine attempts at creating a strong external pressure point. The absence of safe havens and consistent support made it incredibly difficult for the ANC and other groups to effectively organize and challenge the Apartheid government.
Paragraph 3: Internal Weakness of Opposition Movements (Most Important Factor)
Point: The most significant factor enabling Apartheid's survival in the 1970s was the systematic dismantling and repression of internal opposition movements within South Africa itself.
Evidence: The South African government implemented a brutal and effective security apparatus. Key opposition organizations, including the ANC and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), were banned. Prominent leaders like Nelson Mandela remained imprisoned, while others, like Steve Biko, were targeted and killed in police custody. The government enacted legislation like the Terrorism Act of 1967, which allowed for indefinite detention without trial, effectively silencing dissent and crushing any form of organized resistance.
Explanation: This internal repression was far more damaging to the anti-Apartheid movement than any external pressure. By effectively eliminating visible opposition within the country, the government created an atmosphere of fear and silenced potential dissenters. This made it incredibly difficult for the movement to gain traction or mobilize effectively within South Africa, severely hindering its ability to challenge the regime's grip on power.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the international anti-Apartheid movement faced significant challenges in the 1970s, including its own weaknesses and limited support from key actors, it was the brutal and systematic suppression of internal opposition movements that truly allowed Apartheid to survive. The dismantling of organized resistance within South Africa itself, through imprisonment, violence, and repressive legislation, proved to be the most significant factor in perpetuating the regime's control and delaying the eventual dismantling of Apartheid.
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Introduction
Briefly outline the context of Apartheid in South Africa during the 1970s. State your line of argument - do you agree or disagree with the statement, and to what extent?
Paragraph 1: Weakness of International Anti-Apartheid Movement
Point: The international anti-Apartheid movement was weak, particularly in its implementation of sanctions.
Evidence: UN sanctions were initially voluntary and only targeted arms sales. Oil sanctions weren't implemented until the 1980s.
Explanation: This weakness meant the South African government faced minimal economic pressure and could continue its policies with little consequence.
Paragraph 2: Limited Support from Neighboring Countries
Point: Neighboring countries offered limited support to the anti-Apartheid movement.
Evidence: Geographical distance was a factor for some, while others were economically dependent on South Africa.
Explanation: This lack of external support made it more difficult for opposition groups to operate effectively and challenge the Apartheid regime.
Paragraph 3: Internal Weakness of Opposition Movements (Most Important Factor)
Point: The internal opposition movements were severely weakened during the 1970s.
Evidence: Key organizations were banned, leaders imprisoned, and activists like Steve Biko targeted by the police.
Explanation: This internal repression was arguably the most significant factor in Apartheid's survival, as it crippled organized resistance within South Africa itself.
Conclusion
Reiterate your argument: While the weakness of the international anti-Apartheid movement played a role, the internal factors, particularly the suppression of opposition within South Africa, were more significant in allowing Apartheid to survive during the 1970s. Briefly explain why you believe this to be the case.
Extracts from Mark Schemes
Why Apartheid Survived in the 1970s
A significant reason why Apartheid survived in the 1970s was because of the weakness of the international anti-Apartheid Movement. Firstly, the UN sanctions campaign was weak. Although there was a commitment to introduce sanctions to prevent weapons being sold to the South African government, this was only voluntary until 1977 when the UN agreed to make it compulsory. Similarly, although there was a lot of discussion about introducing sanctions on selling oil to South Africa, this did not come into effect until the 1980s. As a consequence, the impact of sanctions hardly affected the capacity of the South African government to continue with Apartheid.
Another reason why Apartheid survived was because of the relative weakness of neighbouring countries who could have supported the opposition movements. Firstly, countries like Tanzania, Angola and Mozambique were a long way from South Africa. Also, neighbouring countries like Botswana and Lesotho were economically dependent on South Africa and therefore reluctant to damage the relationship. As a consequence, opposition groups only received limited support in their struggle against Apartheid.
However, it could be argued a more important reason why Apartheid survived during the 1970s was because of the weakness of the opposition movements inside South Africa. The ANC, PAC and SACP had been banned, and leaders such as Mandela had been imprisoned since the 1960s. Although there was continued opposition from organisations such as the Black Power movement, their leadership was also targeted by the South African police resulting in the arrest and deaths of people like Steve Biko. As a consequence, there was less organised opposition to Apartheid during this decade.
Overall, the weakness of the international anti-Apartheid movement did contribute to the survival of Apartheid as any support for opposition movements was limited. As a consequence, the attempts that were made to challenge Apartheid inside South Africa were easily crushed by the well-resourced SADF and police force.