Abstract
This chapter interrogates the notion of violence within the context of Afrophobia that are prevalent in South Africa. Despite many factors contributing to Afrophobic-induced violence and hatred, the chapter argues that socio-economic deprivations among locals is at the center of perpetuating the scourge of violence and Afrophobic violent attacks on African immigrants. The chapter adopts the relative deprivation theory to understand the factors leading to Afrophobia and its induced violence against African immigrants in South Africa. The chapter also utilizes the Afrocentric approach based on Ubuntu philosophy to forge socio-economic development and prosperity in (South) Africa. The chapter argues that the escalation of Afrophobic violence does not only undermine the integration of the African economy, but also cripples its political quest for unity. The chapter made use of secondary data in the form of book chapters, books, and accredited papers or articles.
TopIntroduction
The notion of xenophobia is an international phenomenon. All nationals have in one way or another experienced the scourge of xenophobia and its ugly manifestations. Scholars such as Charman and Piper (2012), Cronje (2008) and Amit (2010) traced the genesis of xenophobia to the World War II in 1939-1959 where over 2 million Jews were targeted and killed. As Crush et al. (2009) argue, Hitler believed it was the Jewish conspiracy that resulted in the defeat of Germany. Studies have found that Jews in Europe and America have frequently been subjected to violent massacres (Magwaza, 2018). For instance, xenophobic violence in Germany, USA, France and United Kingdom was racially bound and based on the maintenance of dominant white European heritage and race (Mikulich, 2009). In the case of other regions, in 1914, where thousands of Mexicans, Italians, and Asians immigrants were attacked in the USA (Gevisser, 2008). As documented, Jews in such countries have frequently been subjected to violent massacres and alienation. Admittedly, xenophobic violence came in the form of anti-immigrant attitude towards Muslims and other race groups in South Korea. In the case of South Korea, a country once a country predominately dominated by Chinese and Japanese, immigrants were blamed for the unemployment and economic instability (Yakushko, 2008).
Evidently, violent xenophobic attacks have occurred throughout the late twentieth century and early twentieth-first century. In this regard, Arogundabe, (2008) and David (2010) state that in West Africa, the President of Equatorial Guinea in 2004, led by the mercenary, spurred a clampdown on all foreign immigrants in the country (Arogundabe, 2008, Campbell, 2009). The year 2007 witnessed immigrants from western countries were banned from owning businesses in Equatorial Guinea. In June 2015, the Chadian military expelled 200 to 300 Cameroonians as part of the ‘clean-up campaign against undocumented immigrants. In essence, there is evidence that Afrophobic or Xenophobia perpetuate the rigid boundaries based on ‘Us and Them’ (Marotta, 2016, p. 197) rhetoric which in turn reinforces phobia and further undermine socio-cultural integration of African nationals into the South African society.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Afrophobia: Is a branded type of xenophobia that is directed at African nationals in South Africa.
Social Cohesion: Is an expression reflective of togetherness and solidarity and be used to strengthen social relationships and tolerance among people.
Immigration Policies: These are policies developed and promulgated by governments in order to regulate or provide the guidelines on the movement of people within and outside their borders.
Ubuntu: Is Nguni word based on communalistic values and principles of solidarity, cooperation and collaboration, and is practices to reflective humanness and collective responsibilities of the African people.
African Immigrants: These are migrants of African descent.
Makwerekwere: Is a derogatory word for African foreign nationals in South Africa.
Xenophobic Violence: This is violence directed at non-nationals of a particular country.
Immigration: Denotes a movement of people from one country to another and can be for the purposes of residential, familial, economic, social, or otherwise.