Final Answer:
After World War II, apartheid emerged in South Africa as a national policy of racial segregation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Following World War II, apartheid became the official policy in South Africa, instituting a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination. The term "apartheid" refers to the Afrikaans word for "apartness" or "separateness." The policy aimed to enforce racial separation, primarily between the white minority and non-white majority populations in South Africa.
Under apartheid, the government enacted laws that systematically marginalized and oppressed non-white racial groups, enforcing segregation in various aspects of life, including housing, education, healthcare, and public facilities. This discriminatory system also restricted the rights and freedoms of non-white individuals, denying them basic human rights and perpetuating racial inequality.
The apartheid system, which lasted for several decades, was eventually dismantled in the early 1990s, primarily due to internal and international pressure, leading to the establishment of a more inclusive and democratic government in South Africa.