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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Ethnicity in Nation-States with Reference to South Africa |
Author: | De Beer, F.C. |
Year: | 1998 |
Periodical: | South African Journal of Ethnology |
Volume: | 21 |
Issue: | 1 |
Pages: | 32-40 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | South Africa |
Subjects: | ethnicity Ethnic and Race Relations Politics and Government |
Abstract: | In apartheid South Africa, ethnicity studies were considered virtually taboo, in particular at English-language universities. Since 1992 it has been recognized that in South Africa, with its diversity of cultures and people, ethnicity is a complex and dynamic phenomenon. This article first describes the most important manifestations of ethnicity in general and the foundations and ties on which it is built. Then it examines how ethnicity has been dealt with in South Africa, particularly since the elections of 1994. It shows that cultural and language rights are entrenched in the 1996 Constitution, but that preference is increasingly given to English, both as medium of instruction and broadcasting medium. It is obvious that English is being used as a catalyst in the promotion of the nationbuilding ideals of the government. The majority of black people have an instrumentalist approach to the language issue; the Afrikaners, however, will not ad infinitum tolerate the violation of their language rights. Bibliogr., sum. in English and Afrikaans. |