@article{article_1699594, title={Unkept Promises and Land Conflicts in Damon Galgut’s The Promise}, journal={Gaziantep Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi}, volume={24}, pages={1837–1851}, year={2025}, DOI={10.21547/jss.1699594}, author={Akyüz, Ahmet Yusuf and Avcu, İsmail}, keywords={Apartheid, Toprak yeniden dağıtımı, Ben ve öteki, Güney Afrika, Vaat, Yerine getirilmeyen vaat.}, abstract={This study critically examines the conflicts surrounding land, unfulfilled promises, and the dichotomy of self versus other in Damon Galgut’s The Promise. The novel provides a profound exploration of the manipulation and subjugation of individuals and cultures under oppressive political regimes, particularly the apartheid system in South Africa. A state-sanctioned system of racial segregation and discrimination that was institutionalized from 1948 until the early 1990s, systematically privileging the settlers while marginalizing the indigenous populations. Through a close reading of The Promise, this study reveals how the novel reflects the broken promises that defined apartheid and its lingering aftermath. Central to this analysis is the exploration of apartheid’s legislative framework and its devastating socio-economic consequences, particularly for black South Africans. The study investigates how apartheid entrenched systemic inequality by fostering a rigid hierarchy that positioned the white “self” as superior and the black “other” as inferior. Galgut’s narrative captures the psychological and material repercussions of this ideology, exposing its dehumanizing effects. Furthermore, the study examines post-apartheid South Africa as depicted in The Promise, focusing on the unresolved issue of land redistribution. Despite the end of apartheid, equitable land restitution remains an unfulfilled promise, perpetuating historical injustices. The novel portrays the resistance of white landowners to relinquishing property, highlighting ongoing racial and economic disparities. By interrogating these themes, this study underscores the enduring legacy of apartheid and the challenges of achieving true reconciliation and justice in contemporary South Africa. The study examines the symbolism of the unfulfilled promise and the silencing of black persons in the novel. Eventually, it displays the disputes and confrontations between settler and native characters, highlighting their viewpoints and the reverberations of colonialism and racist policies.}, number={4}, publisher={Gaziantep Üniversitesi}