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Fear, dislike and hate : what constitutes xenophobia? : (an analysis of violence against foreigners in De Doorns, South Africa November, 2009)

This paper provides an analysis of xenophobic violence in South Africa. By examining the root of the term 'xenophobia' it is possible to show how the term has evolved to mean something entirely different in the present day. De Doorns, a small farming town in the Western Cape of South Africa is used...

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Main Author: Davis, Alexandra
Other Authors: Sitas, Ari
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Department of Social Development 2014
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access_status_str Open Access
author Davis, Alexandra
author2 Sitas, Ari
author_browse Davis, Alexandra
Sitas, Ari
author_facet Sitas, Ari
Davis, Alexandra
author_sort Davis, Alexandra
collection Thesis
description This paper provides an analysis of xenophobic violence in South Africa. By examining the root of the term 'xenophobia' it is possible to show how the term has evolved to mean something entirely different in the present day. De Doorns, a small farming town in the Western Cape of South Africa is used as a case study, showing how the xenophobic violence that occurred there in November 2009 arose and manifested. Through informal interviews, analyses of available local and regional statistical data a picture of the xenophobia in De Doorns emerges and is then examined in terms of the current theories on xenophobia. The resulting finding provide some new insight into xenophobia in South Africa and how it is evolving. Past assumptions that locate the root of xenophobic sentiment leading to xenophobic action in a 'hatred' of foreigners may be mistaken as xenophobia can (and does) occur in areas with low levels of prejudice towards foreigners. It does so because dissatisfaction with the government sometimes results in a new form of protest that is, to all appearances, xenophobia, but is not necessarily motivated by xenophobic intent. Rather an underlying xenophobic sentiment that exists throughout the nation has opened the door for poor South Africans to target foreign Africans a tool of protest in order to gain government attention. The whole concept of 'xenophobia' has evolved far beyond its roots to refer to actions that are taken against foreigners for the simple reason that they are foreign. As attacks on foreigners occur with increasing frequency in South Africa it is ever more important to gain a deep understanding of each individual outbreak in order to create a holistic and informed picture of South African xenophobia. This research suggests that some of the basic questions underlying research into xenophobia to be questioned.
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institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language eng
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license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2014
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spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/3838 Fear, dislike and hate : what constitutes xenophobia? : (an analysis of violence against foreigners in De Doorns, South Africa November, 2009) Davis, Alexandra Sitas, Ari Development Studies This paper provides an analysis of xenophobic violence in South Africa. By examining the root of the term 'xenophobia' it is possible to show how the term has evolved to mean something entirely different in the present day. De Doorns, a small farming town in the Western Cape of South Africa is used as a case study, showing how the xenophobic violence that occurred there in November 2009 arose and manifested. Through informal interviews, analyses of available local and regional statistical data a picture of the xenophobia in De Doorns emerges and is then examined in terms of the current theories on xenophobia. The resulting finding provide some new insight into xenophobia in South Africa and how it is evolving. Past assumptions that locate the root of xenophobic sentiment leading to xenophobic action in a 'hatred' of foreigners may be mistaken as xenophobia can (and does) occur in areas with low levels of prejudice towards foreigners. It does so because dissatisfaction with the government sometimes results in a new form of protest that is, to all appearances, xenophobia, but is not necessarily motivated by xenophobic intent. Rather an underlying xenophobic sentiment that exists throughout the nation has opened the door for poor South Africans to target foreign Africans a tool of protest in order to gain government attention. The whole concept of 'xenophobia' has evolved far beyond its roots to refer to actions that are taken against foreigners for the simple reason that they are foreign. As attacks on foreigners occur with increasing frequency in South Africa it is ever more important to gain a deep understanding of each individual outbreak in order to create a holistic and informed picture of South African xenophobia. This research suggests that some of the basic questions underlying research into xenophobia to be questioned. 2014-07-30T03:59:23Z 2014-07-30T03:59:23Z 2010 Master Thesis Masters MPhil http://hdl.handle.net/11427/3838 eng application/pdf Department of Social Development Faculty of Humanities University of Cape Town
spellingShingle Development Studies
Davis, Alexandra
Fear, dislike and hate : what constitutes xenophobia? : (an analysis of violence against foreigners in De Doorns, South Africa November, 2009)
thesis_degree_str Master's
title Fear, dislike and hate : what constitutes xenophobia? : (an analysis of violence against foreigners in De Doorns, South Africa November, 2009)
title_full Fear, dislike and hate : what constitutes xenophobia? : (an analysis of violence against foreigners in De Doorns, South Africa November, 2009)
title_fullStr Fear, dislike and hate : what constitutes xenophobia? : (an analysis of violence against foreigners in De Doorns, South Africa November, 2009)
title_full_unstemmed Fear, dislike and hate : what constitutes xenophobia? : (an analysis of violence against foreigners in De Doorns, South Africa November, 2009)
title_short Fear, dislike and hate : what constitutes xenophobia? : (an analysis of violence against foreigners in De Doorns, South Africa November, 2009)
title_sort fear dislike and hate what constitutes xenophobia an analysis of violence against foreigners in de doorns south africa november 2009
topic Development Studies
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/3838
work_keys_str_mv AT davisalexandra feardislikeandhatewhatconstitutesxenophobiaananalysisofviolenceagainstforeignersindedoornssouthafricanovember2009