xenophobia in africa

by Mark Hunter Mulvey

Published: May 20, 2008

A great emigration necessarily implies unhappiness of some kind or other in the country that is deserted.
- Thomas Malthus, English political economist (1766-1834)

Zimbabwe is in the midst of an economic collapse, with nearly 80 percent unemployment and inflation estimated to be at 160,000 percent.
- CNN.com

South Africa, once a bastion of interracial discord and violence, is now in a desperate sprint to stake its claim as Bastion of International Discord as well. Twenty-two have been reported dead at the time of this writing, in what reporters are calling “anti-foreigner” violence and outrage, and what I have more eloquently dubbed, “xenophobic hate sprees.”

Many of the victims were Zimbabwean nationals, slain over the course of a week in the slums of Johannesburg. 200 have already been arrested for various crimes which include rape and murder, as misguided South African patriots attempt to rid their country of immigrants who threaten to hoard jobs and social service benefits. The perception is one of a virulent foreign entity entering a healthy, thriving organism. These killers most certainly consider themselves the vaccine.

This simplistic world view highlights the danger of patriotism when viewed through the eyes of a country’s weakest-minded citizens. South Africa, in fact, consistently ranks in the Top 3 most patriotic nations. (Another member of this elite trifecta is the United States of America.)

The question becomes: Why? Why, in the history of human civilization, has there always been an intense love of one’s country that rises above pride and veers into mania? What is the bridge between flag-waving and rape that allows citizens to justify violence in the name of artificial boundaries? South African President Thabo Mbeki has condemned the uprising and made clear the distinction between the country and its violent supporters, but why such a distinction ever even arises is still unclear.

The answer may be “desperation coupled with myopia.” The poorest areas of Johannesburg are devoid of clean drinking water and even the most basic sanitation. Most importantly, these provincial copses of have-nots are part of the wealthiest province of South Africa, Gauteng, where the continent’s economy is anchored in the diamond and gold trade. These industries not only provide much needed employment to the impoverished locals, but also a glamorous template of success. A healthy economy is a commodity, one that drives many hopefuls into degenerates.

So perhaps the issue here is not one of patriotism or nationalism gone sour, but rather the violent fault line where narrow minds meet future competition.

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