The Issue of Xenophobia and How it Leads to Violence

A refugee is a person who was forced to leave their country. Whether it be from warfare or natural disaster, their homes are no longer safe to live in, so they need to relocate elsewhere. Once someone sets foot on the journey of becoming a refugee, they become vulnerable and dependent with no sense of what the future will bring. In an attempt to accommodate them, first world countries with the resources necessary to assist these refugees, are struggling to determine whether or not they should step-in and help. Some argue that taking them in could come with excessive consequences, while others believe they could be assets. Although there may be a few consequences, they are outweighed by the benefits and undeniable severity of the situation.

Commentary 1: Refugees areal deadly facing an awful life and a tough screening process, but even after it is all over their lives will still be far worse than ours. They will be disrespected and have trouble socially fitting into this new

People who are have the intense or irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries are xenophobic. It could make it harder for these people to work with

Limiting the free movement of immigrants and strengthening border control is a controversial idea that can be detrimental to the multiple relationships around the globe. In the last few decades, we have seen a remarkable rise in xenophobia and conservatism in the United Kingdom (UK). Before the Brexit decision was made, xenophobic parties failed to even pass the 5% of votes needed to become an official government party. If the ideas of xenophobia and other hateful rhetorics are prominent, it will promote an environment where discrimination against a culture, religion, or sexual orientation is okay which it is absolutely NOT. Recently, with the current the United States (U.S.) election, xenophobic and isolationist ideas have grown even more popular. America is symbolized as the land of opportunities with diversity and immigration rooted in its foundation. Immense power comes from the diversity which provides the various types of thinking and perspectives that help our country as a whole. If this hateful rhetoric is prominent, this diversity will disintegrate and discrimination will prevent the diversity to bloom to its full potential. This is the biggest consequence from

Believe it or not, there are countries today that struggle with xenophobia, which is the intense or irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries. I bet you didn't know it is one of South Africa's biggest current issues.

One major issue society faces today is the unwillingness of people to accept others who are different from themselves. This is most recently exemplified by the United States’ change of its attitude toward immigration. As people are unwilling to accept others, they start to fear those who are different from themselves. These people begin to fear the unknown and make assumptions about those who are from a different country, speak a different language, or practice a different religion, leading to intense xenophobia. Although as a society we are improving, the improvements we have made are insufficient. We need to improve to the point that this deeply rooted fear is abolished.

(2001) the dark side of democracy: migration, xenophobia, and human rights in South africa. International Migration, 38, 103-133.

With a high influx of refugees entering different countries xenophobia is resurfacing. Xenophobia has been prominent since the old customs and foundation to Nazism and Fascism. It started to die down but has resurged due new migration patterns and globalization. The Syrian refugee crises and rhetoric from far-right political parties’ have definitely made xenophobia stronger among people. After the Paris Attack, Marine Le Pen, the head of the ultra-conservative National Front party, vouched to “kick out foreigners who are preaching hatred on our soil, as well as illegal immigrants who have nothing do here(foreign policy),” and to wipe our Islam organizations and close radical mosques. Xenophobia isn’t just expressed verbally, it’s also

By not sacrificing power, the whites are bringing this fear upon themselves. “And our lives will shrink, but they shall be the lives of superior beings; and we shall live with fear, but at least it will not be a fear of the unknown.”(Pg. 79) The question is: how long can this unstable and superficial lifestyle endure before the dawn of a new equity? Future generations will have to deal with these issues which are left unsolved by a power hungry nation. And if problems are left unsettled for too long, hatred may establish a permanent residence in South Africa.

Racial oppression and ethnic prejudice made the South Africa in unrest in the past. In 1948, South Africa implemented the Apartheid to separate black community and white community, and this behavior affected South Africa for a long time. Apartheid made this country suffered the racial oppression for a half-century; therefore, between the black community and white community is filled with oppression, discriminate, hostility and carnage. Although this is an unforgettable memory for the South Africa, luckily, they have Nelson Mandela, who is a great people for this country, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to help them rebuild their country. At the time of transition to democracy, Desmond Tutu as a leader of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, he used his intelligence and spirit to consider a third way to heal the past, but not punish the atrocities. Desmond Tutu didn't choose the Nuremberg trails and national amnesia. Instead, he considered a third way to take place of these two extreme courses of action. In my opinion, it is

Many of the contemporary issues in South Africa can easily be associated with the apartheid laws which devastated the country. The people of South Africa struggle day by day to reverse “the most cruel, yet well-crafted,” horrific tactic “of social engineering.” The concept behind apartheid emerged in 1948 when the nationalist party took over government, and the all-white government enforced “racial segregation under a system of legislation” . The central issues stem from 50 years of apartheid include poverty, income inequality, land ownership rates and many other long term affects that still plague the brunt of the South African population while the small white minority still enjoy much of the wealth, most of the land and opportunities

Between 2003 and 2009 up to 2 million Zimbabweans fled to South Africa escaping the socioeconomic crisis caused by their government’s poor management. In an intent to increase the supply of money the Zimbabwean government created a hyperinflation situation that lead to the devaluation not only of the currency but also of citizens’ acquisition power; Zimbabweans had no other option but to leave the country to survive. However, less than 10 percent of this group were recognized as refugees, since they did not complete the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees definition. More than one million and a half people were left helpless in the gray area rejected by South Africa and unable to return and survive in Zimbabwe. Oxford professor, Alexander Betts, argues that in order to avoid similar situations the definition of ‘refugee’ should be expanded to include survival migrants; people who are outside their country of origin as a result of their country’s inability to ensure their most fundamental human rights. The institutional legal framework of the definition of refugee should be expanded to survival migrants not only because it is a state’s moral responsibility but also because it would benefit it economically and institutionally. We will first focus on the moral reasons why the definition should be expanded based in the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Secondly, we assimilate the rights that both have violated. Then we will concentrate in

There is a long history of imperialism and racial segregation before apartheid took place that disenfranchised South Africa. In 1652 the Dutch settled Cape for more trade opportunities and acquiring goods. European arrival to the cape caused many disruptions and conflict there and when whites migrated inland to find more unoccupied land it caused more racial tensions. In result of this “nine

2. The current state of South Africa has a lot to do with the history of colonialism and how colonialism oppressed the indigenous peoples of Africa. Africa in general was greatly affected by colonialism, South Africa in particular experienced government sanctioned separation between the races known as apartheid (site- not sure where I got this). According to the (CIA world fact book) South Africa’s first introduction to colonialism began with the Dutch traders in 1652, the Dutch used South Africa as an intermediary stop on their way along the Spice Route forming the city of Cape Town (CIA). The Dutch that settled in Africa became known as Afrikaners (CIA). The Dutch and

2014:13). The tension of danger versus opportunity presents itself very clearly here. People living in South Africa believed it was unsafe for them and their families to live here after the Soweto uprising and therefore packed up and left for countries all over the world. At the same time opportunity was presenting itself in the form of jobs overseas, thereby making the decisions of those who wanted to leave South Africa easier. Since I was two years old my family has wanted to immigrate to Australia, we often find ourselves travelling there to try out schools and renew our papers. I constantly think of the freedom I have in Australia, walking in the streets freely and not having to worry about someone breaking into my house, on a daily basis. Johannesburg has shaped me to be fearful of life and everything around me, wherever I go I am endlessly watching my back for some dark monster that may come out of the shadows to hurt me.