With the passing of South African anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, what impact does this have on the global community?

On Thursday, Nelson Mandela, who spent three decades in prison for protesting against South Africa’s apartheid regime, passed away at the age of 95. Mandela became South Africa’s first black president in 1994 and helped steer the nation on the path towards democracy.

Mandela’s doctrine of nonviolence and peaceful coexistence earned him praise from the international community, and he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

For more commentary on his life and South Africa, reread Do South Africans Truly Enjoy Freedom and Mandela Syndrome: Fear for South Africa.

For instant updates from the South African perspective, be sure to follow Olwethu Sipuka on Twitter. Olwethu holds a Masters in Philosophy from the University of Cape Town and specializes in advocacy, stakeholder relations and policy.

Nelson Mandela – I have always regarded myself, in the first place, as an African patriot.

— Injoli yeSizwe (@osipuka) December 6, 2013

What impact has Mandela’s legacy made on your life? Has he helped change the way you view the world?

Do you think he helped set the foundation in South Africa for a more inclusive society for all of its citizens, irrespective of ethnicity, race and religion? What lessons and examples have other nations learned from Mandela’s struggle, leadership and experience?

We want to hear from you!

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Michael Sharnoff is founder and editor of Sharnoff’s Global Views. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelSharnoff.