XENOPHOBIA IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA AND ITS REGIONAL EFFECTS

Year 2023, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 55 - 75, 28.12.2023

Evanilde Rofina Alfiado , Ceren Gürseler

Abstract

Migration has always been a part of human life. People trend to move to other regions for a variety of reasons, with the search for better living conditions at the core. The discovery of gold and diamond mines in South Africa and its exploitation, brought large waves of migration from the region to this country. Initially, South Africans alone were insufficient to meet the demand for labor in the mining sector, and the migration of people benefited both the mining companies and the migrant population also needs work as it is a source of livelihood. The end of apartheid system in South Africa by 1994, changed the scenario in the and migrants started to be a viewed in a negative way. High expectations regarding improved living conditions emerged and the unrealization of these expectations has led to the emergence of a new security problem affecting the region: xenophobic violence, affecting mostly citizens of Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. This study aims to understand the policies pursued by states and international organizations in response to xenophobia. During the research process, the study utilized qualitative approach methods and techniques. It was observed that the policies adopted by the examined states and international organizations in the search for a solution to xenophobia problem were insufficient to solve it. At the same time, cooperation forums were held at the regional and international level to expand efforts in preventing the problem, but xenophobia still threatens the security of the peoples of the region.

Keywords

Southern Africa, Republic of South Africa, Xenophobia, Africa, International security.

GÜNEY AFRİKA CUMHURİYETİ'NDE YABANCI DÜŞMANLIĞI VE BÖLGESEL ETKİLERİ

Abstract

Göç, toplumsal yaşamın başlangıcından bu yana insan hayatının bir parçası olmuştur. İnsanlar her zaman daha iyi yaşam koşullarına sahip olmak gibi çeşitli nedenlerle farklı ülkelere gitme eğiliminde olmuştur. Güney Afrika'da altın ve elmas madenlerinin keşfedilmesi ve ardından bu kaynakların işletilmeye başlanmasıyla birlikte bölgeden bu ülkeye büyük göç dalgaları yaşanmıştır. Başlangıçta, Güney Afrika nüfusu madencilik sektöründeki işgücü talebini tek başına karşılayamamıştır. Bu nedenle diğer bölgedeki insanların ülkeye göç etmesi, madencilik şirketlerinin bu işgücüne ihtiyaç duyması ve göçmen nüfusun da geçim kaynağı olarak işe ihtiyaç duyması açısından bir kazan-kazan durumu olarak görülebilmektedir. 1994'te Güney Afrika Cumhuriyeti’nde apartheid sisteminin kalkmasıyla birlikte ülkedeki tablo değişmiş ve göçmenler Güney Afrika halkı tarafından farklı bir şekilde değerlendirilmeye başlanmıştır. Apartheid sisteminin sona ermesiyle yaşam koşullarının iyileştirilmesi yönünde büyük beklentiler olmuştur. Bu beklentilerin gerçekleşmemesi, bölgesel güvenliği etkileyen bir sorunun ortaya çıkmasına sebebiyet vermiştir: özellikle Mozambik, Malavi ve Zimbabve vatandaşlarını etkileyen yabancı düşmanı şiddet. Bu çalışmanın amacı, yabancı düşmanlığı sorunu karşısında devletler ve çeşitli uluslararası kuruluşlar tarafından izlenen politikaları ortaya koyarak değerlendirmektir. Araştırmada, nitel yaklaşım yöntem ve teknikleri kullanılmıştır. Çalışma, belge ve söylem incelenmesi ile tarihsel ve karşılaştırmalı yöntemlerle desteklenmiştir. Araştırma neticesinde, incelenen devletlerin ve uluslararası kuruluşların yabancı düşmanlığı sorununa çözüm arayışında benimsedikleri politikaların bu sorunu çözmede yetersiz kaldığı görülmüştür. Aynı zamanda, sorunla mücadele çabaları artırmak amacıyla bölgesel ve uluslararası düzeyde işbirliği forumların öne çıkmaktadır, ancak yabancı düşmanlığı bölge halklarının güvenliğini hâlâ tehdit etmektedir.

Keywords

Güney Afrika, Güney Afrika Cumhuriyeti, Yabancı düşmanlığı, Afrika, Uluslararası güvenlik.

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