What is it about?

In the last few decades, South Africa has experienced destructive waves of xenophobic violence. Tackling this kind of violence requires interventions at the policy and community level. Designing and implementing such interventions would be easier if researchers, activists and policymakers better understood public views on anti-xenophobia interventions. Using textual responses on what should be done about violence against foreign nationals, this article looks at public preferences for anti-xenophobia strategies in the country.

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Why is it important?

Xenophobia is one of the principal problems facing many nations. But there has been little work on public attitudes towards anti-xenophobia interventions. It is inherently interesting, therefore, for scholars to examine which anti-xenophobia strategies ordinary people most prefer. In addition, increased knowledge of what anti-xenophobia policies laypeople endorse should be of great interest to activists and policymakers who want to build support for a particular set of actions.

Perspectives

Building support for a strategy (or set thereof) is often essential for its effective implementation. It is hoped that the findings of this study can be used to design strategies to build public support for effective anti-xenophobia interventions.

Dr Steven Lawrence Gordon
Human Sciences Research Council

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Citizens’ preferences for tackling xenophobic violence in an African context: A South African case study., Peace and Conflict Journal of Peace Psychology, February 2022, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/pac0000483.
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