Locke on Apartheid

John Locke had key inputs in the development of liberalism (Heywood, 2007:47) and this essay will illustrate that he would explain the downfall of apartheid as the effective exercising of God-given rights.

Apartheid was an era in South Africa in which rights such as life, liberty and property were not realities for certain groups, oppression and tyranny were. John Locke wrote for liberty and human rights, his theories included the notions that all people are born equal and that education can free people toward the overthrow of autocracy (Heywood, 2007:66). The oppressed group during the apartheid era were not granted any of these rights and Locke expresses that the presence of a ruler to carry out human rights is uncalled for, as human beings through rationality and instinct already know them (Heywood, 2007:99). Locke argued that fundamental rights such as life, liberty and property could not be neglected and in the American Revolution he justified the rebellion through the non-granting of these rights (Heywood, 2007:93). In the defiance campaign, the majority of the nation went against government and rebelled against all regulations purposefully, these actions are also justified by the non-granting of basic human rights.  

Locke also believed that government should ensure that individuals acquire the widest realm of freedom (Heywood, 2007:99), Locke believed that the state is merely a protective body, with a core function to provide a framework of peace and social order, in his simile he stated that the state acts like a night-watchman, whose services are called upon when orderly existence is threatened (Heywood, 2007:99). The apartheid government had a stronger hold over the nation than the night-watchman and this even more brings suitability to its demise.  

John Locke would have explained the demise of apartheid as another success where society passes in ensuring their rights and ensuring the government gain less of a hold over society. The demise of...