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paulc899 t1_j5vl105 wrote

Reply to comment by joebro2022 in IOC issues statement on solidarity with Ukraine & sanctions against Russia and Belarus - Atlethes will be allowed to compete under neutral flag by RandomDKguy

Sure they can. South Africa wasn’t allowed to compete for years.

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joebro2022 t1_j5vrcmj wrote

South Africa's White Minority had voting power unlike Russian Citizens.

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poutinegalvaude t1_j5whlqn wrote

They also had all the power unlike the majority of South Africa’s population

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TheImperios t1_j5xgkuu wrote

The point here is that white South Africans had more agency over their government's actions than Russians.

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poutinegalvaude t1_j5xnb23 wrote

Why would white South Africans want to upset the system that gave them so much money and power?

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TheImperios t1_j5xw4ec wrote

The idea I think is exactly that. That while white South Africans could just vote the apartheid government out if they wanted, Russians cannot and their only option is armed insurgency (which is near-impossible while the regime is strong), meaning they are less to blame.

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poutinegalvaude t1_j5xym3e wrote

I don't think they could have just voted them out, either. In 1946 it was a response to the foundation of the ANC but by 1948 the Herenigde Nasionale were in control and very authoritarian. White dissenters were treated very harshly, thus discouraging any future support for the dismantling of Apartheid.

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TheImperios t1_j5xyng2 wrote

Yeah, it's complicated, IIRC South Africa was effectively ruled by a secret society

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