Theology: Practical Theology: Xenophobia

This book powerfully demonstrates that some of the most resourceful entrepreneurs in the South African informal economy are migrants and refugees. Yet far from being lauded, they take their life into their hands when they trade on South Africa's "mean streets." The book draws attention to what they bring to their adopted country through research into previously unexamined areas of migrant entrepreneurship. Ranging from studies of how migrants have created agglomeration economies in Jeppe and Ivory Park in Johannesburg, to guanxi networks of Chinese entrepreneurs, to competition and cooperation among Somali shop owners, to cross-border informal traders, to the informal transport operators between South Africa and Zimbabwe, the chapters in this book reveal the positive economic contributions of migrants. these include generating employment, paying rents, providing cheaper goods to poor consumers, and supporting formal sector wholesalers and retailers. As well, Mean Streets highlights the xenophobic responses to migrant and refugee entrepreneurs and the challenges they face in running a successful business on the streets.

Part One is the author's analysis of the nature of race and racism, and insights from philosophers, ethicists, and social thinkers on this problem and its equally pernicious outliers, tribalism and xenophobia. Part one is shaped to be the single best book available for courses on racism. Part Two collects texts from papal and conciliar teaching and from bishops and church bodies from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America, and Oceania. Each document has a pithy introduction and, whenever they are available, an internet address where the full text and related materials can be found. Book jacket.

In "Ubuntu, Migration and Ministry" Elina Hankela engages with the socio-moral meanings of "ubuntu" (Nguni: humanness/humanity) in contemporary Johannesburg drawing on ethnographic fieldwork at the Central Methodist Mission, a Johannesburg inner-city church that has been re-shaped in the face of international migration.

Xenophobia is a notoriously difficult concept to explore, especially within the complex South African environment. This exploration has two elements: the theoretical and the practical. The theoretical element focuses mainly on the theories of xenophobia in South Africa, as well as the theoretical response of the Church to the problem. The practical element is a qualitative empirical exploration using small scale focus group interviews to gain insight into the relationship between xenophobia and religion, with special reference to young Christians of The Methodist Church of Southern Africa. The findings seem to suggest that "being religious" does not prevent xenophobic attitudes and emotions and that there is potential to have xenophobic reactions in people who "perceive" themselves to be religious living in an environment of economic and social hardships. Religious involvement combined with economic and social factors may promote xenophobic reactions. In an indirect way(s) religion may be one of the "causes" of xenophobia.