Ubuntu as public policy in South Africa: a conceptual framework

bibliographic database
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Periodical article

Title:	Ubuntu as public policy in South Africa: a conceptual framework
Author:	Nkondo, Gessler Muxe
Year:	2007
Periodical:	International Journal of African Renaissance Studies
Volume:	2
Issue:	1
Pages:	88-100
Language:	English
Geographic term:	South Africa
Subjects:	philosophy government policy
External link:	https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/18186870701384202
Abstract:	This article is a response to President Thabo Mbeki's call to bring 'ubuntu' principles into the soul of national reconstruction and development policies in South Africa. It is about connecting 'ubuntu' with the imperatives of political power and democracy. Beginning with an overview of the origin and core elements of 'ubuntu' as a philosophy and a way of life, the article focuses on the idea that the analytic process required to illustrate how a social theory and a political ideal can be extracted and developed out of their constitutive elements has not been given the rigorous attention it deserves. It analyses South African social attitudes since 1994, arguing that they provide a good basis for the translation of 'ubuntu' into a national culture. It briefly reflects on the potential danger of ethnicity in South Africa, and examines the implications of 'ubuntu' for the role of the State and the sphere of work. It concludes with an examination of the transformation of South Africa's political culture to meet the principles of 'ubuntu'. Bibliogr., sum. [ASC Leiden abstract]