The Mapungubwe Institute (MISTRA), in association with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, will host a conference on 14 August 2014 to release the research report for its project on nation formation and social cohesion. The report is titled “Nation formation and social cohesion: An enquiry into the hopes and aspirations of South Africans”.
MISTRA’s project on social cohesion sought to examine the different interpretations and meanings that diverse social actors attach to nation formation and social cohesion.
The project, which undertook ethnographic research in four sites in Gauteng, the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Northern Cape, also sought to explore the efficacy of these concepts to present-day South African society.
This research report focuses on the processes of nation formation and social cohesion in post-colonial and post-apartheid South Africa. It dwells on the challenges and the advances made with respect to these political and social developments since 1994.
The report consists of eight interrelated chapters:
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Chapter 1: Introduction: Discusses the theoretical and methodological aspects that underpin, inform and guide the research, by Prof. Andries Oliphant
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Chapter 2: Conceptualising nation formation: Investigates the two main aspects of the study, namely the theories and processes of nation formation, by Prof. Andries Oliphant
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Chapter 3: An African wish: Contextualising debates on ‘The national question’ in South Africa, by Yacoob Abba Omar
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Appendix: Nation formation and nation building: theses on the national question in South Africa, by Joel Netshitenzhe
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Chapter 4: Linking nation formation and social cohesion: discusses social cohesion and links it with processes of nation formation in national and subnational constellations, by Prof. Andries Oliphant
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Chapter 5: Western Cape, Hout Bay: Shepi Mati
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Chapter 6: Fietas and related areas: Feizel Mamdoo
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Chapter 7: Local perspectives in the Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal: Robert Gallagher and Leslie Dikeni
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Chapter 8: Conclusion: Draws on the findings to outline some possible interventions aimed at enhancing the processes of nation formation and social cohesion in South Africa
The conference will take place at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, 107 Central Street, Houghton, Johannesburg on 14 August 2014 from 09h00 to 14h30.
The findings will be released at the conference. Febe Potgieter Gqubule, Adviser to AU Commission Chairperson Dlamini-Zuma is the programme director. Speakers include:
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Sello Hatang, Chief Executive Oficer of the Nelson Mandela Foundation
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Joel Netshitenzhe, MISTRA Executive Director
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Prof. Andries Oliphant, University of South Africa (UNISA) and project member
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Prof. Melissa Steyn, Wits University
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Yershen Pillay, Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Development Agency
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Mosibudi Mangena, former Minister of Science and Technology and current member of the MISTRA Board of Governors
Please click here for an executive summary of “Nation formation and social cohesion: An enquiry into the hopes and aspirations of South Africans”.
For media queries please contact Gail Smith on +27 (0)11 518 0260 or GailS@mistra.org.za.