From 'Foreign Natives' to 'Native Foreigners'. Explaining Xenophobia in Post-apartheid South Africa

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The book explores xenophobia as a political discourse shaped by historical and social dynamics in South Africa, particularly regarding citizenship over the past fifty years. It examines how apartheid's migrant labor policies de-nationalized individuals and how post-apartheid nationalism has perpetuated exclusion based on indigeneity. The author argues that a passive citizenry, arising from a de-politicized populace, has allowed xenophobic narratives to dominate. To counter this, a redefined notion of citizenship as an active political identity is essential for restoring agency and challenging state-induced exclusion.