Journal Article

The Idea of the South African Nation: National versus Subnational Identification and its Implications for National Unity

Bornman, Elirea

2021

Overview

This article represents a review of divergent theoretical discourses and secondary research on the South African nation and how it should be viewed and governed. It focused on various theoretical perspectives on the concepts of “nation” and “national identification”. Different views on the necessity of the formation of an overarching national identity — a key principle in nation-building theory and practices — were considered. More specifically, attention was paid to the problematic nature of national identification in diverse societies. The paper also considered the theory and practices of nation-building, the legacy of nation-building in Africa, various faces of South African nation-building and potential consequences for societal diversity. It equally reviewed nation-building discourses that focus attention on citizens’ social identities and secondary research on patterns of social identification in post-apartheid South Africa. It recommended that preference should be given to acknowledging the diversity and complexity of the South African nation. Thus, instead of following controversial nation-building strategies, policies to acknowledge and accommodate diverse forms of social identification should be implemented. Such strategies could stand a better chance of fostering enduring social cohesion, peace and harmony.

• Publisher: Adonis & Abbey Publishers,Adonis & Abbey Publishers Ltd
• Subject: Apartheid / Attention / Discourses / Identification / Nation / Nation building / National identification / National identity / Political development / Post-apartheid era / Social cohesion / Social identification / Social identity / Societal diversity / South Africa