Aspirational Principles in African Federalism: South Africa, Ethiopia and Nigeria Compared

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 362-382
Author(s):  
Erika Arban ◽  
Adriano Dirri
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Constitutional Design ◽  
Divided Societies ◽  
Common Concern

Finding a balance between diversity and social cohesion is a common concern in constitutional design: in divided societies, such a balance has often been sought through federalism. But the need to reconcile diversity and social cohesion can also be addressed through aspirational values embedded in a constitution. In fact, constitutions may entrench fundamental principles directing policies to foster equality, eliminate obstacles or require the different tiers of government to collaborate harmoniously in the performance of their functions. In exploring solidarity between different communities and cooperative government in South Africa, ethnicity as foundational value in Ethiopia, and the federal character in Nigeria, this article offers a comparative account of the three most important federations in Africa to assess how their constitutions reconcile diversity and social cohesion through aspirational principles related to federalism.

scholarly journals “Incompleteness” and the Quest for Multiple Identities in South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 81-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard C. Lategan
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cultural Diversity ◽  
Identity Formation ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Historical Memory ◽  
Multiple Identities ◽  
The Self ◽  
Important Goal ◽  
Alternative Approach

The article explores the contours of multiple identities in contrast to singular identities in situations of social complexity and cultural diversity. Nyamnjoh's concepts of “incompleteness” and “frontier Africans” imply an alternative approach to identity formation. Although the formation of one's own, singular identity is a necessary stage in the development of each individual, it has specific limitations. This is especially true in situations of complexity and diversity and where the achievement of social cohesion is an important goal. With reference to existing theories of identity formation, an alternative framework is proposed that is more appropriate for the dynamic, open-ended nature of identity and better suited to encourage the enrichment of identity. The role of imagination, a strategy for crossing borders (with reference to Clingman's concept of a “grammar of identity”), the search for commonality, and the effect of historical memory are discussed. Enriched and multiple identities are not achieved by replacement or exchange, but by widening (existing) singular identities into a more inclusive and diverse understanding of the self.

scholarly journals Building Bridges: The Time Travel method for Learning and Community building

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (34) ◽  
pp. 91-111
Author(s):  
Ebbe Westergren
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Community Building ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Time Travel ◽  
Target Groups ◽  
Educational Method ◽  
The World ◽  
Process Event

This article presents the Time Travel method, an educational method that uses local heritage to reflect on contemporary issues. The goal is to promote learning, social cohesion and contribute to community building. The Time Travel method started in Kalmar, Sweden in the mid-80s and has spread to more than 20 countries around the world. Target groups are schools and local communities. The definition, principles and the three phases (process, event, follow-up) of the Time Travel method are here explained. Examples of Time Travel programs in South Africa, Kenya and Sweden are presented in an extensive way, and the effect on schools and local communities. Finally, achievements and challenges are discussed and some ideas on how to take the Time Travel method and the organization Bridging Ages into the future, also in South America.Resumo: Este artigo apresenta o método Viagem no Tempo, um método educacional que utiliza o patrimônio local para refletir sobre questões contemporâneas. O objetivo é promover a aprendizagem, a coesão social e contribuir para a construção comunitária. O método de Viagem no Tempo começou em Kalmar, Suécia, em meados dos anos 80 e se espalhou para mais de 20 países ao redor do mundo. Os grupos-alvo são escolas e comunidades locais. A definição, os princípios e as três fases (processo, evento, acompanhamento) do método de viagem no tempo são explicados aqui. Exemplos de programações de viagens no tempo na África do Sul, Quênia e Suécia são apresentados de forma extensa e o efeito nas escolas e comunidades locais. Por fim, os resultados e desafios são discutidos e algumas ideias de como levar o método Viagem no Tempo e a organização Bridging Ages para o futuro, também na América do Sul.

The seeds of ethnic or tribalistic manifestations in Limpopo: The case of Makhado, Vuwani and Malamulele

2021 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ndwamato G. Mugovhani
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
New South ◽  
Nation Building ◽  
Essential Property ◽  
Research Article ◽  
Democratic Elections

This research article argued that the current conflicts between Vhavenda and Vatsonga, two decades and four years later after the first democratic elections for a new South Africa in 1994, are manifestations of the seeds that were sown by the Voortrekkers since their arrival around the Soutpansberg in the northern parts of South Africa in 1836. Makhado (Louis Trichardt), Vuwani and Malamulele have been embroiled in continuous arguments and counterarguments, advocacies and counter advocacies, including protests, and in some instances, destruction of the essential property. Before then, Vhavenda and Vatsonga used to live alongside each other and even together. In their traditional village settings, there was no discrimination based on language or ethnicity. Through review of early scholarly writings, oral resources garnered from elders and the author’s personal experience, a few episodes were highlighted, and the ramifications thereof were discussed.Contribution: This study also postulated that although the promotion of the tribes’ uniqueness was culturally significant, social cohesion and multiculturalism could have been sustained without institutionalising the segregation laws and demarcations, for these decisions have come back to haunt the present democratic South Africa’s ideals of nation building and social cohesion.

(Un)Liberated and Contested Narratives

2019 ◽  
pp. 334-347
Author(s):  
Bongani C Ndhlovu
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Public Sphere ◽  
South African ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Nation Building ◽  
The State ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
The Many ◽  
Contested Narratives

This chapter analyses the influence of the state in shaping museum narratives, especially in a liberated society such as South Africa. It argues that while the notion of social cohesion and nation building is an ideal that many South African museums should strive for, the technocratisation of museum processes has to a degree led to a disregard of the public sphere as a space of open engagement. Secondly, the chapter also looks at the net-effect of museums professionals and boards in the development of their narrative. It argues that due to the nature of their expertise and interests, and the focus on their areas of specialisation, museums may hardly claim to be representative of the many voices they ought to represent. As such, the chapter explores contestations in museum spaces. It partly does so by exploring the notion “free-spokenness” and its limits in museum spaces. To amplify its argument, the chapter uses some exhibitions that generated critical engagements from Iziko Museums of South Africa.

scholarly journals The discursive cultural representations of Gentiles: A contextual approach using migration theory

2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zorodzai Dube
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Collective Identity ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Social Boundaries ◽  
Jewish Law ◽  
Cultural Representations ◽  
Contextual Approach ◽  
Self Identity

How are social boundaries created and how are they maintained? To an extent, the way people look, dress and talk demarcates cultural markers that distinguish them from others − hence, giving them a sense of self-categorisation and self-identity. However, with time such collective identity might need readjustment when people from another culture become insiders and neighbours within the perceived social boundaries. Regarding this, James Dunn noted that a challenge of social cohesion between the Jews and the Gentiles existed during the 1st century, necessitated by the conversion of Gentiles to Christianity. In response, to keep their exclusive collective identity, the Jews demanded that the Gentiles observe Jewish law. This article develops Dunn’s view that the observance of Jewish law provided implicit social exclusion strategies towards the Gentiles. However, Dunn did not elaborate further concerning the strategies upon which Gentiles were excluded. As contribution to fill that void, this article drew on strategies of inclusion and exclusion from the analogy of migration in South Africa and elsewhere.Hoe word sosiale en kulturele grense geskep en onderhou? Tot ’n mate bewerkstellig die manier waarop mense uiterlik voorkom, aantrek en praat kulturele kenmerke wat sekere groepe van ander onderskei, en verleen so aan hulle ’n bepaalde identiteit en klassifisering. So ’n gemeenskaplike identiteit moet mettertyd aangepas word as mense van ander kulture met ander gebruike deel word van die binnekring. In hierdie verband merk James Dunn op dat, in die eerste eeu na Christus, die Jode en heidene aangespoor is tot ’n samehorigheidsgevoel wat deurdie bekering van heidene tot die Christendom genoodsaak is. In reaksie hierop het die Jode aanvanklik verwag dat die heidene die Joodse wet moes nakom. Hierdie artikel bou op Dunn se siening, naamlik dat die onderhouding van die Joodse wet sosiale strategieë ontwikkel het wat die heidene onvoorwaardelik uitgesluit het. Dunn brei egter nie verder oor die sogenaamde strategieë uit nie. In hierdie artikel word gepoog om hierdie leemte aan te vul deur middel van ’n vergelyking met kontemporêre migrasie in Suid-Afrika en die strategieë van insluiting en uitsluiting wat bespeur word in sulke kontekste, te verdiskonteer.

scholarly journals Discerning the role of faith communities in responding to urban youth marginalisation

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Reginald W. Nel
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Urban Youth ◽  
Youth Ministry ◽  
Faith Communities ◽  
Doctoral Studies ◽  
Youth Movements ◽  
Faith Based ◽  
Urban Theology

Urban youth marginalisation became a key consideration in scholarly and policy literature in the 1990s. This entailed a shift from an emphasis on youth in relation to activism in the struggle to overcome colonial racism – popularly known as ‘the struggle against apartheid’ – to an emphasis on youth as the object of social inquiry and social welfare programmes. Irrespective of how we valuate this shift, the question in this article is how urban faith communities and youth ministry research are to respond to the agency of youth as dialogue partners – with a focus on social cohesion. This article explores this shift in scholarship on urban youth movements, especially for the period since 1994. It draws from the perspectives of my recent doctoral studies (Nel 2013) in constructing a creative dialogue with youth movements. The ultimate aim of this article is to provide a grounded basis for constructing a methodology for a postcolonial urban theology. In addition, it aims to inform the ongoing Youth at the Margins (YOMA) comparative study on the contribution of faith-based organisations to social cohesion in South Africa and Nordic Europe, with the Riverlea community, in Johannesburg, as one of the case studies.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document