prosegregation

Prosegregation is a stance that supports the separation of people into distinct groups within society, often based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or nationality. Advocates argue that separation can protect cultural or group autonomy, reduce perceived conflict, or simplify governance and social interaction. Critics contend that segregation institutionalizes inequality, restricts civil rights, and perpetuates discrimination.

Historically, prosegregation ideas have appeared in various contexts. In the United States, supporters of racial segregation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries argued that separating Black and white populations was necessary for social order and economic competition; this culminated in the Jim Crow system and legalized segregation until the civil rights movement challenged these policies. In South Africa, pro-apartheid ideologies promoted racial separation as a means of preserving white minority control, formalized under state policy from 1948 until the early 1990s. Similar arguments have appeared in debates over school desegregation, housing, and public facilities in other countries.

In modern political discourse, explicit advocacy for formal segregation is generally disfavored or illegal in many jurisdictions, yet debates persist over how to balance equality with cultural or religious autonomy, and how to address de facto segregation in housing, schools, and communities. Prosegregation remains a controversial concept, often discussed in relation to civil rights, constitutional protections, and social integration.

See also: segregation, civil rights, apartheid, Jim Crow, segregationist.