Globalization, Migration, and Local Communities, one adverse upshot: A Case Review of Xenophobia in eThekwini Municipality, Durban, KZN, South Africa

Abstract

Durban area in eThekwini Municipality was recently labeled one of the 'worst xenophobia crisis zones' as 'foreign natives' of the continent swiftly became 'native foreigners' coerced either to return home or perish there. This inquiry seeks to link this with the multifaceted causal and contributory effects and realities of post-independence realities in Africa. Historically, the lack of highly skilled labour in South Africa has been linked to the legacy of apartheid education; this has resulted in poor education for the majority of the population, thus further entrenching discrimination and inequality. Considering the recent spate of xenophobic violence as a case study, this paper critically reviews the literature to assess the impact of globalization and migration in South Africa. It argues that the transformation of the country cannot be successful if local communities are continuously discriminated against and their conditions are not changed for the better. The paper adopts Bourdieu's (2006) Critical Theory, in particular, his concept of economic, cultural and social capital, in order to understand the impact of globalization and migration on local communities. The paper then recommends that African governments work in concert to stabilize their economies and create plans to combat social ills that negatively affect co-existence.

Keywords: Discrimination, Globalization, Inequality, Critical theory, Community Development,