Magister Artium - MA / This mini-thesis is a discourse analysis of the representations of black ‘foreigners’ in the media with reference to xenophobia. In this specific context, the study investigates and analyses the textual representations of black ‘foreigners’ in the Daily Sun, a South African tabloid newspaper during the period February 2008 till December 2008. For the theoretical and systematic framework, the study essentially combined critical discourse analysis (Van Dijk, 1993, Wodak, 2012) and the notion moral panics to explain the language used and subsequent impact of the media in shaping xenophobic attitudes (Goode and Ben-Yehuda, 1994). This investigation into the representations of black foreigners examines the media coverage of black African immigrant stories that appeared in the Daily Sun in the designated time period. A total of one hundred and twenty-four (124) news articles were selected from the files reserved at the South African National Archives in Cape Town. These data are extracts of news articles from the Daily Sun newspaper collected during the progress of the study. The main focus of this investigation is on how the Daily Sun portrayed and depicted black foreigners and the violence perpetuated again them. This study found that, on the one hand the Daily Sun, portrayed black foreigners as victims and on the other hand as aggressors or abusers of the social and legal system in South Africa. This ambiguity reflects the relationship between black foreigners and black local citizens. Black foreigners themselves are a diverse group and the Daily Sun depicts these nationalities in different, often stereotypical ways. This study contributes to our understanding of black African immigration to South Africa as well as the responses of local citizens to this process. By focusing on how representations of African immigrants are constructed in this specific South African tabloid newspaper, we are given insight into the xenophobic attitudes of many ordinary South Africans.

The aim of this study is to explore the perception and experience of treatment and inclusion that Afroswedish parents have of the Swedish preschool. There are a few similar studies on the subject, but they are either coming in from another perspective or are focused on the theoretical aspect of the matter.  The study has been performed through semi structured, qualitative interviews with seven caregivers with an afroswedish background, who have children in the Swedish preschool, or that just have finished it. Throughout the study we have been using a phenomenographic method among an intercultural theory and Foucault’s theory to analyse and understand how different factors are associated and interact with each other, and how they affect the intercultural encounter. The study shows that their experiences vary depending on numerous factors. One of the most significant is that the individual preschools work for inclusion and diversity is dependent for the parent’s perceptions of the preschool and the pedagogues. The experiences of how the pedagogues treat and talk with the parents and the children are also important for the overall impression of the preschools. The study points out the awareness among the preschool staff and their approach to the matter of diversity as the main important factor for equal treatment and inlcusion.

The purpose of this study is to create a broader understanding of the concept of afrophobia. The purpose of the study is also to investigate how the term ”afrophobia” is expressed in public documents. The research questions are: When did the concept of afrophobia begin to be used on an international level, but above all in Sweden? How is the term ”afrophobia” defined by different organizations and public bodies? What alternative terms are also used, and how does their meaning differ? What possible effects can different definitions contribute to? The method that will be applied by an idea analysis on my primary material. As an analysis tool, I will use five different dimensions that consist of the following: Historical perspective, Cultural identity, Intercultural perspective with a postcolonial point of departure, Strategic essentialism/cosmopolitism and critical whiteness perspective/color blindness. The result will show the different definitions of the primary material and is analyzed based on my chosen dimensions.

MA (Political Science) / Department of Development Studies / South Africa attracts a variety of migrants, largely from the Southern African region. It has become the largest recipient of foreign nationals in Africa. South Africa’s porous borders linked to its neighbouring countries contribute to the influx of foreign nationals. Mozambique has been the largest supplier of workers in mining and agricultural sectors of South Africa. However, along the way and upon arrival, migrants are surrounded by treacherous conditions. This is because both documented and undocumented migrants are susceptible to xenophobic sentiments, violence and discrimination. Therefore, in search for security, migration initiates a new risk of insecurity. This study employed the qualitative approach to explore the causes of migration and experiences of Mozambican migrants in Johannesburg, South Africa. Research findings reveal that migrants come to South Africa for different reasons, not limited to economic factors. Some migrants come to South Africa for education and to seek refuge. Foreign nationals’ experiences vary from one person to another, as the findings show that some migrants get the privilege to start a thriving business and employ the locals. Therefore, migrants also contribute to the South African economy. / NRF