White Belongings: Race, Land, and Property in Post-Apartheid South Africa

White South Africans have benefited from Africa's land and riches since the end of statutory apartheid, but the recent threat of land expropriation without compensation has led to concerns that the racial order may be undone. White Belongings: Race, Land, and Property in Post-Apartheid South Africa by Scott Burnett examines white discourse at a time of increasing stridency and defensiveness, arguing that the protection of white entitlement and cultural connection to the land are intimately interwoven. The book uses detailed discourse analysis of campaigns aimed at preventing rhino poaching, stopping fracking in the Karoo, and advocating for the existence of a poverty "crisis" to show how whites hold on to their "belongings" in everyday talk. It goes beyond the preoccupation with identity in whiteness studies to elaborate how specific subject roles and institutions are motivated and rationalized in hegemonic discursive regimes.

Format: Hardback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 15 July 2022
Publisher: Lexington Books

Since the end of statutory apartheid, white South Africans have continued to hold a significant portion of Africa's land and wealth. The recent threat of land expropriation without compensation has led many to believe that the racial order itself is about to be undone. In these critical moments, White Belongings: Race, Land, and Property in Post-Apartheid South Africa delves deeper into the ongoing deconstruction of the role of whiteness in maintaining racial order. The book analyzes white discourse during a time of growing stridency and defensiveness, arguing that the protection of white entitlement and cultural connection to the land are intricately intertwined. To demonstrate this, Scott Burnett employs detailed discourse analysis of campaigns aimed at preventing rhino poaching, stopping fracking in the Karoo, and advocating for the existence of a poverty "crisis." These social and traditional media texts reveal how whites maintain their "belongings" in everyday conversations.

The author employs various strategies, including asserting ecological indigeneity, promoting enclave entrepreneurialism, and reproducing the rationality of market liberalism. White Belongings goes beyond the focus on identity in whiteness studies by exploring how specific subject roles and institutions are motivated and rationalized within hegemonic discursive regimes.

This book is a valuable contribution to the field of post-apartheid studies, shedding light on the complex dynamics of race, land, and property in South Africa. It challenges the prevailing narratives and provides a nuanced understanding of the ongoing struggles and challenges faced by white South Africans in the post-apartheid era.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781793654946