Rights at Risk: Refugees in the New South Africa

This thesis seeks to analyze the relationship between public attitudes toward refugees in a refugee receiving state and the realization of the legal rights afforded refugees (de facto rights). I hypothesize that the more negative a host culture is toward refugees, the less refugees are able to realize their rights. Conversely, the more positive a host culture is toward refugees, the more refugees are able to realize their rights. I test the hypothesis through a case study of refugee populations in Cape Town, South Africa, based on research conducted from May to June 2007. The orientation (positive or negative) of the host culture's perceptions toward a refugee group (Independent Variable) is measured through: (1) a coded content analysis of the South African media, (2) a coded content analysis of semi-structured interviews, and (3) an assessment of secondary source public opinion surveys and reports. The realization of refugee rights (Dependent Variable) is operationalized as a function of two rights: (1) the right to personal physical integrity and (2) the right to protection from unlawful detention. These rights are measured by coding (1) media reports and (2) interviews, and by (3) assessing NGO reports and secondary source public opinion surveys. My empirical data shows that the cultural orientation toward refugees is not overwhelmingly negative, and the realization of rights is not conclusively "low." However, the frequency of data coded "negative" and "low" versus "positive" or "high" suggest that South Africans regard refugees somewhat negatively and that rights are not fully realized. This finding is strengthened by the analysis of secondary sources and field notes.

Voices of the New South Africa: NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH (dir: John Kani, 2008) : and, HOMECOMING (dir: Norman Maake, 2005) [videorecording]

"2 DVD set"

Wanderings and excursions in South Wales, with the scenery of the River Wye /

Includes index.

New viewpoints in American history,

Reprinted in part from various periodicals.

The story of Durham, city of the new South,

Mode of access: Internet.

The Mirror of literature, amusement, and instruction: containing original essays; historical narratives; biographical memoirs; manners and customs; topographical descriptions; sketches and tales; anecdotes; select extracts from new and expensive works; poetry, and original and selected; the spirit of the public journals; discoveries in the arts and sciences; new facts in natural history, &c.

Editors: 1822-26, Thomas Byerley.--1827-38, John Timbs.

A brief history of Les Cheneaux Islands : some new chapters of Mackinac history /

Bibliography: p. 139-140.

The New England theocracy. A history of the Congregationalists in New England to the revivals of 1740,

Translation of Geschichte der congregationalisten in Neu-England bis zu den erweckungen um das jahr 1740.

A statistical account of Australia and New Zealand.

Report year varies.

The Charity Organization Society of the City of New York, 1882-1907. History: account of present activities. Twenty-fifth annual report for the year ending September thirtieth nineteen hundred and seven,

Mode of access: Internet.

Wanderings and excursions in South Wales, with the scenery of the River Wye. With 50 engravings from drawings

"Partly written by Louisa A. Twamley, afterwards Mrs. Meredith."--Dict. nat. biog.

Australian butterflies: a brief account of the native families, with a chapter on collecting & preserving insects.

Mode of access: Internet.