Patriotism pt5– So. Africa

Courtesy of Julia Hope

Growing up in post-apartheid South Africa, Julia Hope compares the positive aspects of patriotism as opposed the more negative implications of nationalism in a redefined unity of the now democratic nation.

Where are you from and where do you now live?

Julia Hope: I was born and grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa. I currently live and study in Reims France.

Define patriotism as opposed to nationalism

From a purely connotational standpoint, patriotism speaks to pride for ones country. This country can be a state of many nations and identity groups. I have more pejorative associations with the word nationalism. To me nationalism and populism are of the same discourse.

While nationalism also instils a sense of belonging and pride for a specific group of people, the criteria for group association is based on a cultural and ethnic identity. This renders the ‘nation’ homogenous and exclusive (as opposed to a broader criteria of inclusion – being state citizenship).

While patriotism can be used as a tool to unite different groups within a country, nationalism has a more divisive role – used to exclude certain groups from belonging to X state.

How is patriotism approached in your country?

South Africa (SA) is an agglomeration of many different historical nations and cultures (to which our 11 official languages can attest). The distinction between these groups has been systematically reinforced in South Africa’s recent history, most specifically through the Apartheid government’s doctrine of divide and rule.

SA’s independence was characterised by the ANC’s (ruling party under Nelson Mandela to present) non-racialist ideology and ‘rainbow nation’ narrative. Patriotism was at the core of redefining an inclusive South African identity, one which prides itself on diversity and unity between racial and ethnic groups. This merely 25-year-old, if somewhat superficial, patriotism manifests largely in sports events (lest I mention Invictus or the 2010 FIFA world cup). It is a morale maintained by the ruling party even within a disillusioned, divided and ever unequal society.

Are you a patriot of your country?

Speaking to South Africa and Sports, supporting certain teams can be rather political. I would feel more of a sense of patriotism for the South African football team than the national Rugby team- merely because The Springboks (Rugby) are less racially representative and reflect a historical system of over-proportional white membership.

When it comes to pride for my country, I am extremely patriotic. I feel fully invested in my country’s history and current political affairs. I am emotionally connected to SA in a way that I can only describe as patriotism. I know I want to work and live in SA when I’m older, largely due to a sense of duty I have for my home country. I reflect that this due a combination of my parents’ influence (their involvement in the anti-apartheid movement and thus the vision of “a new south Africa”) and perhaps my own white guilt (as a privileged youth). I couldn’t imagine feeling indifferent to a major crisis or gain within South Africa, for example the national Covid-19 stats at home.

How can patriotism be beneficial today?

I think it can be very useful in transformative democracies to instill a sense of pride for ones independent country and to unite a state on the grounds of having overcome an oppressor.

Lest I sound somewhat Hobsbawmian [British Marxist historian], it is nonetheless key to ensure that this patriotic identity finds relevance at a grassroots level and is not merely imposed by a ruling elite.

The rainbow nation narrative is arguably stale, a goal not of the majority of the population. It does not prioritise a tackling of the deep economic and racial inequalities in South Africa.

To what sources do you attribute collective pride?

The imposed Rainbow Nation patriotism can be used to avoid grappling with the infrastructural issues South Africa faces. Thus, when patriotism is used as a tool by the state and no longer a country’s people it becomes redundant, even harmful.

Something very significant in my country’s context that I have not yet touched on is xenophobia as a tool of shirking state responsibility. The shocking levels of unemployment cause an equally shocking level of violent xenophobia against workers from abroad and neighbouring Southern African states. The ruling party has often employed xenophobic discourse to scapegoat different identity groups. Patriotism becomes dangerous when ‘pride for’ becomes ‘privilege for’ a specific citizenship. It is wielded to disempower groups of a different state or national identity.

Does patriotism have a place in today’s world?

Patriotism can be a means of holding onto cultural heritage and history. Patriotism that is used to unite previously disenfranchised peoples can be something very empowering and positive.

Without speaking too much to the ideal, I believe that the above role of patriotism is also useful when fending off an imposed hegemonic global culture.

About the Article

A  post-apartheid look at patriotism vs. nationalism in South Africa.

Patriotism Intro

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