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The Power to Subvert. Government Discourse and Namibia's San Development Policy

Emmel, Silja LU (2011) SIMT29 20111
Department of Political Science
Master of Science in Development Studies
Graduate School
Abstract
The Namibian San people live in poverty and marginalisation and that despite the country’s constantly increasing economic wealth. Quantifiable factors such as unemployment and education are identified as the roots of the problem, and are being addressed through aid programmes. These quantifiable factors do, however, only present an incomplete picture of the problem. By performing a critical discourse analysis (CDA) of the government discourse that surrounds the San, I point out the importance of scrutinizing the non-quantifiable, the discursive side of the problem in order to get a deeper understanding of its causes. Using a theoretical framework centred around the role of knowledge and power structures in shaping reality, and postcolonial... (More)
The Namibian San people live in poverty and marginalisation and that despite the country’s constantly increasing economic wealth. Quantifiable factors such as unemployment and education are identified as the roots of the problem, and are being addressed through aid programmes. These quantifiable factors do, however, only present an incomplete picture of the problem. By performing a critical discourse analysis (CDA) of the government discourse that surrounds the San, I point out the importance of scrutinizing the non-quantifiable, the discursive side of the problem in order to get a deeper understanding of its causes. Using a theoretical framework centred around the role of knowledge and power structures in shaping reality, and postcolonial thought in understanding the origins of these structures I find that the colonial image of the San still haunts them today in defining how they are treated and therewith plays a role in their marginalisation. In order to comprehensively address the problem, these immaterial factors have to be taken into account. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Emmel, Silja LU
supervisor
organization
course
SIMT29 20111
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Namibia, San people, Critical Discourse Analysis, marginalisation, postcolonialism, power structures
language
English
id
1967043
date added to LUP
2011-07-06 08:03:17
date last changed
2014-05-27 11:18:00
@misc{1967043,
  abstract     = {{The Namibian San people live in poverty and marginalisation and that despite the country’s constantly increasing economic wealth. Quantifiable factors such as unemployment and education are identified as the roots of the problem, and are being addressed through aid programmes. These quantifiable factors do, however, only present an incomplete picture of the problem. By performing a critical discourse analysis (CDA) of the government discourse that surrounds the San, I point out the importance of scrutinizing the non-quantifiable, the discursive side of the problem in order to get a deeper understanding of its causes. Using a theoretical framework centred around the role of knowledge and power structures in shaping reality, and postcolonial thought in understanding the origins of these structures I find that the colonial image of the San still haunts them today in defining how they are treated and therewith plays a role in their marginalisation. In order to comprehensively address the problem, these immaterial factors have to be taken into account.}},
  author       = {{Emmel, Silja}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Power to Subvert. Government Discourse and Namibia's San Development Policy}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}