What ideology supported the belief in racial superiority and led to the Apartheid regime in South Africa?

The ideology that underpinned the belief in racial superiority and ultimately led to the implementation of the Apartheid regime in South Africa is rooted in racial segregation and white supremacy. This belief system posits that one race, in this case, the white population, is inherently superior to others, justifying political and social dominance over non-white populations.

Apartheid, enacted in 1948, was characterized by the systematic separation of races in legal, economic, and social spheres. It institutionalized discrimination against non-white South Africans, particularly Black individuals, undermining their rights to vote, receive decent education, and access quality housing and healthcare. This ideology fueled government policies that enforced segregation in public facilities, education, and residential areas.

Understanding this context reveals that nationalism, socialism, and anarchism do not directly advocate for racial superiority. Nationalism often focuses on national identity and sovereignty, socialism promotes economic equality, and anarchism opposes hierarchical structures altogether, thus lacking the specific racial components that characterized the Apartheid system. Racial segregation and white supremacy were distinct ideologies that directly influenced and justified the oppressive framework of Apartheid in South Africa.