TY  - JOUR
T1  - Unkept Promises and Land Conflicts in Damon Galgut’s The Promise
TT  - Damon Galgut’un Vaat Romanında Yerine Getirilmeyen Sözler ve Toprak Çatışmaları
AU  - Akyüz, Ahmet Yusuf
AU  - Avcu, İsmail
PY  - 2025
DA  - October
Y2  - 2025
DO  - 10.21547/jss.1699594
JF  - Gaziantep Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi
JO  - GAUN-JSS
PB  - Gaziantep Üniversitesi
WT  - DergiPark
SN  - 1303-0094
SP  - 1837
EP  - 1851
VL  - 24
IS  - 4
LA  - en
AB  - 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.
KW  - Apartheid
KW  - Land redistribution
KW  - Self versus other
KW  - South Africa
KW  - The Promise
KW  - Unfulfilled promise.
N2  - Bu çalışma, Damon Galgut’un Vaat adlı romanında toprak çatışmalarını, yerine getirilmeyen vaatleri ve “ben” ile “öteki” arasındaki ikiliği eleştirel bir bakışla inceler. Roman, özellikle Güney Afrika’daki apartheid rejimi altında bireylerin ve kültürlerin nasıl manipüle edildiğini ve boyun eğdirildiğini derinlemesine irdeler. Apartheid, 1948’den 1990’ların başına kadar kurumsallaşmış, devlet destekli bir ırk ayrımı ve ayrımcılık sistemiydi; yerleşimci nüfusu sistematik olarak kayırırken, yerli halkları marjinalleştiriyordu. Vaat üzerine gerçekleştirilen bu metin odaklı analiz, romanın apartheid döneminin kırık vaatlerini ve kalıcı mirasını nasıl yansıttığını ortaya koymaktadır. Çalışmanın merkezinde, apartheid’ın yasal çerçevesi ve özellikle siyahi Güney Afrikalılar üzerindeki yıkıcı sosyo-ekonomik etkilerinin incelenmesi yer alır. Çalışma, apartheid’in beyaz “ben”i üstün, siyah “öteki”yi ise aşağı konumlandıran katı bir hiyerarşi oluşturarak sistematik eşitsizliği nasıl kökleştirdiğini incelemektedir. Galgut’un anlatısı, bu ideolojinin psikolojik ve maddi yansımalarını ortaya koyarak onun insanlık dışı etkilerini gözler önüne serer. Ayrıca, çalışma, Vaat’ta betimlenen apartheid sonrası Güney Afrika’yı, özellikle çözümlenmemiş toprak yeniden dağıtımı sorununu ele alır. Apartheid’ın sona ermesine rağmen, adil toprak iadesi hala yerine getirilmemiş bir vaat olarak kalmakta ve tarihsel adaletsizlikleri sürdürmektedir. Roman, beyaz toprak sahiplerinin mülklerinden vazgeçmeye direnişini tasvir ederek devam eden ırksal ve ekonomik eşitsizlikleri vurgular. Bu temalar üzerinden, çalışma apartheid’ın kalıcı mirasını ve çağdaş Güney Afrika’da gerçek uzlaşma ve adaletin sağlanmasındaki zorlukları sorgular. Romanın merkezindeki yerine getirilmeyen vaat sembolizmi ve siyahi bireylerin sessizleştirilmesi incelenir. Son olarak, yerleşimci ve yerli karakterler arasındaki çatışmalar, perspektif farklılıkları ve sömürgecilik ile ırkçı politikaların yankıları ortaya konulur.
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UR  - https://doi.org/10.21547/jss.1699594
L1  - https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/4871479
ER  -