History The Anti Apartheid Movement Questions Medium
The Anti-Apartheid Movement was a global campaign that aimed to end the system of racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa known as apartheid. One of the key strategies employed by the movement was international divestment campaigns, which sought to pressure governments, corporations, and institutions to withdraw their investments and economic support from South Africa.
There were several significant international divestment campaigns associated with the Anti-Apartheid Movement. One of the earliest and most influential campaigns was the Sullivan Principles, initiated by Reverend Leon Sullivan in the late 1970s. The Sullivan Principles called on multinational corporations operating in South Africa to adhere to a code of conduct that promoted equal treatment and opportunities for all races. This campaign aimed to encourage companies to divest from South Africa if they could not meet these principles.
Another major divestment campaign was the United Nations' arms embargo against South Africa, which was implemented in 1977. This embargo prohibited the sale of arms and military equipment to the South African government, aiming to weaken its military capabilities and put pressure on the apartheid regime.
Additionally, the international movement called for cultural and academic boycotts of South Africa. Artists, musicians, and athletes were urged to refuse to perform or participate in events in South Africa, while academics and students were encouraged to sever ties with South African educational institutions. These cultural and academic boycotts aimed to isolate the apartheid regime culturally and intellectually, further delegitimizing its policies.
Furthermore, divestment campaigns targeted financial institutions and universities that had investments in South Africa. Activists pressured these institutions to divest from companies doing business in South Africa, arguing that their investments indirectly supported the apartheid regime. This approach aimed to hit the South African economy by cutting off its access to international capital and undermining its legitimacy.
Overall, the key international divestment campaigns associated with the Anti-Apartheid Movement included the Sullivan Principles, the United Nations' arms embargo, cultural and academic boycotts, and divestment from financial institutions and universities. These campaigns played a crucial role in raising awareness about apartheid and exerting economic and political pressure on the South African government to dismantle the discriminatory system.