Challenges to Nation-Building in Africa – Why DifFicult?

Impact of ColonialismImpact of ColonialismEthnic/linguistic divisionsEthnic/linguistic divisions

Weak or unstable economiesWeak or unstable economies

Disruption of family & community lifeDisruption of family & community life

Lack of skilled, literate work forceLack of skilled, literate work force

Many attempts at democracy became military Many attempts at democracy became military dictatorshipsdictatorships

South AfricaApartheid = “separation” of racesApartheid = “separation” of races

White minority had power over black White minority had power over black majoritymajority

Roots of ApartheidTransatlantic Slave Trade (16Transatlantic Slave Trade (16thth-19-19thth c.) c.)

Imperialist attitudesImperialist attitudes

Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism

RacismRacism

Beginnings of apartheidEuropean settlers European settlers

Dutch Boers/Afrikaners & Dutch Boers/Afrikaners & British settlersBritish settlers

Industrialization Industrialization Mining & slave laborMining & slave labor

Cecil RhodesCecil Rhodes

Pass lawsPass laws

National Party in Power 1948

Africans had no vote or political rights Africans had no vote or political rights

Homeland policies, Group Areas Act (1951), Bantu Homeland policies, Group Areas Act (1951), Bantu Homelands Act (1951)Homelands Act (1951)

Restricted Africans from owning landRestricted Africans from owning land

““Bantustans”Bantustans”

Homelands

Separate But Not Equal

Population Registration Act (1950)Population Registration Act (1950)

Preservation of Separate Amenities Act (1950)Preservation of Separate Amenities Act (1950)

Abolition of Passes and Coordination of Documents Abolition of Passes and Coordination of Documents Act (1952)Act (1952)

Bantu Education Act (1953) Bantu Education Act (1953)

African Response African National Congress African National Congress (ANC) formed in 1912(ANC) formed in 1912

Organized to fight for African Organized to fight for African rightsrights

Peaceful resistance (strikes, Peaceful resistance (strikes, boycotts) to protest racismboycotts) to protest racism

Was banned by National PartyWas banned by National Party

Leader, Nelson Mandela, Leader, Nelson Mandela, sentenced to life sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964imprisonment in 1964

Sharpeville Massacre (1960)

Police opened fire on African protestors who Police opened fire on African protestors who marched on police stationmarched on police station

69 killed69 killed

International uproarInternational uproar

African Response

Soweto Uprising (1976)Soweto Uprising (1976)Students led march in Soweto to protest Students led march in Soweto to protest inferior education inferior education

Police opened firePolice opened fire

176 to 600 killed, 176 to 600 killed, over 1,000 injuredover 1,000 injured

Turning point in Turning point in struggle to end struggle to end apartheidapartheid

Foreign Assistance in Ending Apartheid

South African bishop Desmond TutuSouth African bishop Desmond Tutu Nations refused to trade w/South AfricaNations refused to trade w/South Africa

South Africa isolated in other international South Africa isolated in other international affairsaffairs

First Steps

President F.W. de Klerk President F.W. de Klerk elected 1989elected 1989

Goal was to transform S. Africa Goal was to transform S. Africa & end its isolation& end its isolation

Legalized the ANC, released Legalized the ANC, released Mandela from prisonMandela from prison

South African parliament South African parliament repealed apartheid lawsrepealed apartheid laws

No land restrictions, no No land restrictions, no segregationsegregation

First Steps• 11stst universal elections held (in universal elections held (in

which Africans could vote) in which Africans could vote) in 19941994– De Klerk v. MandelaDe Klerk v. Mandela– ANC won 63% of seats in ANC won 63% of seats in

National Assembly in National Assembly in parliamentparliament

– Mandela elected president Mandela elected president

• New democratic constitution in New democratic constitution in 19961996– Equal rights for all citizensEqual rights for all citizens– Bill of rightsBill of rights

Africa Since Apartheid

• Africa is still considered a republicAfrica is still considered a republic• Thabo Mbeki elected president (ANC) in Thabo Mbeki elected president (ANC) in

1999 & 20041999 & 2004– Controversy, deputy Jacob ZumaControversy, deputy Jacob Zuma– Resigns in 2008Resigns in 2008

• 2009 to today – Jacob Zuma 2009 to today – Jacob Zuma elected presidentelected president

Continuing struggles

• Corruption Corruption • High crime rateHigh crime rate• UnemploymentUnemployment• Economic downturns Economic downturns

– Trade complicationsTrade complications

• AIDS epidemicAIDS epidemic