An apartheid regime is a government or political system that enforces systematic segregation and oppression of one racial or ethnic group by another. In its classic historical form, apartheid in South Africa meant legalized discrimination in housing, education, jobs, movement, and political rights.

Quick Scoop

The word apartheid comes from Afrikaans and means “apartness” or separation. It is also used in international law to describe a crime against humanity when a system of domination and oppression is maintained through inhumane acts against one group.

What it looks like

An apartheid regime typically involves:

  • Legal separation of groups by race or ethnicity.
  • Unequal rights and access to land, voting, education, or public services.
  • State enforcement of segregation through laws, policing, or administrative rules.

Historical example

South Africa’s apartheid system began in 1948 and lasted until the early 1990s. It restricted where people could live, who they could marry, what jobs they could hold, and whether they could participate equally in government.

Important note

People sometimes use “apartheid” more broadly in political debate, but the term has a specific legal and historical meaning. In serious discussion, it is best used carefully and with clear evidence.

If you want, I can also give you:

  • a one-sentence definition ,
  • a simple example , or
  • the difference between apartheid and segregation.