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Skidmore College

Publication Date

Spring 2019

Program Name

South Africa: Multiculturalism and Human Rights

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and qualities of a South African patriotism in Stellenbosch. 25 years after the transition to democracy and an election in 2019, this study aims to develop a sense of national pride using a small sample size. The major question is how is that pride expressed? Is it using rhetoric from the post-1994 ANC nation-building projects? Or have those efforts lost salience in people’s lives?

To conduct this research, I used mainly a 'vox pop' style interview, meaning participants were chosen randomly to answer a short, 5-6 question survey about national pride. Structured interviews with planned meeting times were also conducted, where participants answered the same set of questions.

The findings of this research were insightful in four main regards. The first was the reference to post-1994 ANC rhetoric, which was invoked and spanned demographic lines but was not overwhelmingly present. The second was the unanimous feelings of uncertainty about the future of the country. The third was the stable definition of 'patriotism' offered by participants. Finally, the complexities of coloured identity in South Africa that were alluded to in interviews with coloured participants.

Disciplines

African Languages and Societies | African Studies | Civic and Community Engagement | Political Science | Politics and Social Change | Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies | Social and Cultural Anthropology

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