Segregation vs. Apartheid — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 3, 2023
Segregation refers to the enforced separation of races within a country, while apartheid was a systemized, legal racial segregation unique to South Africa.
Difference Between Segregation and Apartheid
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Segregation is a broad term describing the enforced separation of different racial groups in daily life, whereas apartheid was a specific policy of racial segregation and discrimination enforced by the South African government from 1948 to 1994. Both terms denote systems of institutionalized racial separation, but apartheid refers to a more rigid and government-sanctioned form of segregation.
While segregation has been practiced in various forms globally, apartheid was a legally codified system under which the rights of the majority black inhabitants of South Africa were curtailed and white supremacy was maintained. Segregation can occur without legal mandate, manifesting in schools, housing, and public facilities, whereas apartheid had comprehensive laws requiring racial separation.
Segregation can be a de facto result of economic, social, and institutional biases, like the Jim Crow laws in the United States, which were not as rigidly systematized as apartheid. Apartheid, conversely, was a deliberate and systematic policy that not only separated but also stratified society, creating a racial hierarchy enshrined in law.
In the context of civil rights, both segregation and apartheid have been targets of extensive civil rights movements. Segregation, while pervasive, has been challenged and dismantled in various countries, including the United States. Apartheid ended after a focused international and domestic campaign against it, resulting in a democratic transition in South Africa.
Lastly, the legacies of both segregation and apartheid continue to influence the social and economic landscapes of their respective societies. While segregation often implies separation, apartheid denotes a specific, historical system of racial governance that had global consequences and required international intervention to dismantle.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
General policy of racial separation
Specific policy of racial segregation in South Africa
Legal Status
Can be de facto or de jure
Was a system of legal statutes
Geographical Prevalence
Worldwide
Exclusive to South Africa
Historical Period
Varied, historically and presently
1948 to 1994
Global Impact
Broad, with varying degrees
Specific and international condemnation
Compare with Definitions
Segregation
A setting apart or separation of people or things from others.
The cafeteria was known for the segregation of underclassmen from upperclassmen.
Apartheid
A legally enforced system of racial discrimination and oppression.
The end of apartheid marked a new era of equality and democracy in South African history.
Segregation
The enforced separation of different racial groups.
Segregation in the American South once dictated separate drinking fountains for black and white individuals.
Apartheid
A policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race.
Apartheid legislated racial divisions leading to significant disparities in South Africa.
Segregation
Division of people or things into separate groups.
Waste segregation helps in effective recycling.
Apartheid
A former official policy of racial segregation in South Africa.
Nelson Mandela fought against the injustices of apartheid.
Segregation
Isolation of a group due to racial or religious differences.
Segregation of neighborhoods led to a lack of diversity in public schools.
Apartheid
Systematic segregation of people enforced by the state.
Apartheid created a deep socioeconomic divide between black and white communities.
Segregation
The act of separating individuals during a period in history.
Segregation laws in the 20th century barred interracial marriage.
Apartheid
A social policy of racial segregation involving political, legal, and economic discrimination.
Apartheid-era signs designated benches and public facilities for 'Whites Only.'
Segregation
The act or process of segregating or the condition of being segregated.
Apartheid
Apartheid (, especially South African English: , Afrikaans: [aˈpartɦɛit]; transl. "separateness", lit. "aparthood") was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 until the early 1990s.
Segregation
The policy or practice of separating people of different races, classes, or ethnic groups, as in schools, housing, and public or commercial facilities, especially as a form of discrimination.
Apartheid
An official policy of racial segregation formerly practiced in the Republic of South Africa, involving political, legal, and economic discrimination against nonwhites.
Segregation
(Genetics) The separation of paired alleles or homologous chromosomes, especially during meiosis, so that the members of each pair appear in different gametes.
Apartheid
A policy or practice of separating or segregating groups.
Segregation
The setting apart or separation of things or people, as a natural process, a manner of organizing people that may be voluntary or enforced by law.
Apartheid
The condition of being separated from others; segregation.
Segregation
(biology) The setting apart in Mendelian inheritance of alleles, such that each parent passes only one allele to its offspring.
Apartheid
The policy of racial separation used by South Africa from 1948 to 1990.
Plural relations
Segregation
(mineralogy) Separation from a mass, and gathering about centers or into cavities at hand through cohesive or adhesive attraction or the crystallizing process.
Apartheid
(by extension) Any similar policy of racial separation/segregation and discrimination, particularly when in favor of a minority rule.
Segregation
The separation of people (geographically, residentially, or in businesses, public transit, etc) into racial or other categories (e.g. religion, sex).
Apartheid
(by extension) A policy or situation of segregation based on some specified attribute.
Segregation
(sociology) The separation of people (geographically, residentially, or in businesses, public transit, etc) into various categories which occurs due to social forces (culture, etc).
Apartheid
To impose a policy of segregation of groups of people, especially one based on race.
Segregation
(genetics) The separation of a pair of chromatids or chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis
Apartheid
Segregation by race; - a term used in South Africa.
Segregation
The act of segregating, or the state of being segregated; separation from others; a parting.
Apartheid
The official policy of strict segregation by race practised by the government of the Union of South Africa up to 1993.
Segregation
Separation from a mass, and gathering about centers or into cavities at hand through cohesive attraction or the crystallizing process.
Apartheid
A social policy or racial segregation involving political and economic and legal discrimination against non-whites; the former official policy in South Africa
Segregation
(genetics) the separation of paired alleles during meiosis so that members of each pair of alleles appear in different gametes
Segregation
A social system that provides separate facilities for minority groups
Segregation
The act of segregating or sequestering;
Sequestration of the jury
Common Curiosities
Is segregation only a racial practice?
While typically associated with racial separation, segregation can also occur along religious, gender, or other lines.
What does segregation mean?
Segregation is the practice of requiring separate housing, education, and other services for people of different races.
Where was apartheid practiced?
Apartheid was a legal system in South Africa from 1948 until the early 1990s.
Were segregation laws the same in every country?
No, segregation laws varied by time and place, such as Jim Crow in the US or the caste system in India.
How did apartheid affect South African society?
Apartheid created a stratified society where white South Africans were privileged over other races, leading to widespread inequality.
What led to the end of apartheid?
Internal resistance and international pressure led to negotiations that ended apartheid and established majority rule.
Can segregation be found in countries today?
Yes, various forms of segregation, often subtler and not legally sanctioned, continue to exist in many societies.
Was apartheid recognized internationally?
Apartheid was widely condemned by the international community and led to significant sanctions against South Africa.
Are there monuments to apartheid?
Yes, there are museums and monuments in South Africa that document the era of apartheid.
Who are some key figures who fought against apartheid?
Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu are among the notable figures who resisted apartheid.
What was the international response to apartheid?
Many countries and organizations, including the United Nations, implemented sanctions and boycotts against South Africa during the apartheid era.
Did segregation ever have legal backing in the United States?
Yes, through Jim Crow laws, segregation was legally enforced in the U.S. until the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
What is "de facto" segregation?
De facto segregation occurs because of economic or social conditions, not because of legal requirements.
Did segregation exist in the North of the United States?
Segregation existed in the North, often through unwritten customs and housing policies, rather than legal mandate.
Has segregation affected educational systems?
Segregation has historically led to unequal educational resources and opportunities for minority groups.
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Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
