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Radicalizing Democracy and Power in Post-Conflict

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Radicalizing Democracy and Power in Post-Conflict RADICALIZING WOMEN-CENTERED ORGANIZING AND POWER IN POST-CONFLICT NAMIBIA: A CASE STUDY OF THE SHACK DWELLERS FEDERATION OF NAMIBIA By Angela R. Cowser Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Vanderbilt University in the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In Religion May, 2013 Nashville, Tennessee Approved: Professor Victor Anderson Professor Sandra L. Barnes Professor C. Melissa Snarr Professor Paul Dokecki Copyright © 2013 Angela Cowser All Rights Reserved ii For Momma and Daddy iii All Saints Sunday, 2012 As well it should, completing the doctoral program in Religion at Vanderbilt University takes a tremendous amount of perseverance, stamina, and strength. All of the persons that I will thank in these acknowledgments have helped me mightily to run and finish this race. First is Victor Anderson, who over the past 20 years has shepherded countless students at both the doctoral and masters’ level through the rigors of finishing their degrees. I count myself fortunate to be among that number. In the classroom and the office - over lunch, and at the piano, Dr. Anderson has, lo these past six years, been a sure mentor and a loving guide ever armed with good humor and high rigor for his charges, especially for me. As a keen observer of his students’ natural gifts and interests, he led me to focus this dissertation in the area of the sociology of religion. For caring and for loving me, bless you Victor. The second person who rightly deserves equally high praise is my second reader and my beloved professor in the Sociology of Religion, Dr. Sandra Barnes. To sit across the table from Dr. Barnes means that you must produce scholarship that is outstanding, on time, and of the highest order. For accountability, unyieldingly high standards of excellence, a wise hand, and a gentle heart, I am forever in your debt. Thank you Dr. Barnes. My third reader, Dr. Melissa Snarr, allowed me to sit in her office, in one of those chairs with a strong back, and talk and talk and talk about community organizing, IAF, and justice. In her presence, Melissa lets me be a scholar and an organizer, welcoming at full throttle, the mix of the theoretical and the practice. For an oasis and a safe place to work and dream, plot and plan for a more just world, I thank you. And to my fourth reader, a hale and hearty thank you to Dr. Paul Dokecki. In his Human and Organizational Development classroom, Paul welcomed my skills and insights as a pastor and organizer, encouraging my interest in poor people’s organizing and cross-cultural work. For the plush chair, the command to “go do it”, and the unwavering support, I am grateful. To Ted Smith for your gentle heart, brilliant mind and sweet spirit, to Team Awesome – Kate Lassiter, Asante Todd, Jin Young Choi, Sean Hayden, Natalie Wigg-Stephenson - great companions on the journey, and to Pete Gathje – for believing in me, thank you. Our Dissertation Accountability Group – Asante, Jim, Tamara Lewis, and Christophe Ringer – has helped me stay focused and on track. Together, we keep the faith. Without question, this dissertation would not have happened without the leadership of my dear friend Rev. Trudy Stringer, who let me tag along with her, Barbara McClure, and 18 masters’ level students to Namibia for a three-week immersion which is where we met women from the Shack Dwellers Federation. Trudy, you’ve been my cheerleader, faithful friend, den mother, and wise sage to me for these past six. For your kindness and friendship, I am thankful. There are many Namibians that I need to thank. First is Anna Muller, the Executive Director of NHAG and a friend. Thanks Anna for saying yes to this research project, iv letting me live in your house for six months, and take care of Tatara and name Trixie! Thanks too to Lyn Fulton-John, Director of the Office of Honor Scholarship, not only for encouraging me to apply for a Fulbright, but really shepherding me through the whole process. I shall not forget Geniene VeiiI met Federasi leader Clemmons Kangombe on my second day in Namibia. He was my driver, interpreter, protector, and friend. Clemmons, you’re the best! To Raley Kastor, Maria, Roselinda Hendricks, Edison Tjihero, and Heinrich Amushila, the work that you do in the Federation is outstanding and worthy of the highest praise. Thanks for letting me run with you. I love and adore my parents, George and Marjorie Cowser. I am grateful that they value education and have encouraged me to continue learning, growing, and exploring. My dear father has gone on to the Church Triumphant and my loving mother has kept faith with me - every week for six years. For the sacrifices, abundant grace, and steadfast love, I am your grateful daughter. v LIST OF TABLES Table 2.0: Language Spoken by Ethno-Linguistic Group in Namibia Table 2.1: The Language Federation Respondents Speak at Home Table 2.2: Age of Federation Respondents Table 2.3: Head of Household Table 2.4: Number of Dependents Table 2.5: Chart of Daily Chores Table 2.6: Denominational and Church Affiliation of Respondents Table 2.7: Employment Status of Federation Respondents Table 2.8: Highest Educational Achievement Level for Federation Respondents Table 2.9: Reasons for Respondents not Completing Primary School Education Table 3.0: The Meaning of the Federation for Respondents Table 3.1: The Meaning of the Federation for Respondents by Age Table 4.0: Respondents’ Rationale for Joining the Federation Table 4.1: Three Most-Cited Reasons Respondents Remain in the Federation Based on Ethnicity Table 4.2: Three Most-Cited Reasons Respondents Remain in the Federation Based on Education Table 4.3: Three Most-Cited Reasons Respondents Remain in the Federation Based on Religion Table 4.4: Self-Assessment of Whether the Respondent is a Leader Table 4.5: Analysis of Leadership Qualities in Respondents who Self-Identify as Leaders Table 4.6: Analysis of Leadership Skills by Competency Area from Self-Identified Leaders vi Table 4.7: Why Respondents (Continue to) Participate in Daily Savings Table 4.8: Status of Respondents in the Saving and Building Process Table 4.9: Problems that the Federation Faces Table 4.10: Respondents and Their Opinions about Community Needs vii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AMEC African Methodist Episcopal Church BIG Basic Income Grant CCN Council of Churches in Namibia CEO Chief Executive Officer CLIP Community Land Information Program CSO Community service organization DELK Evangelisch Lutherische Kirche in Namibia Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia DRC Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk Dutch Reformed Church ELCIN Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia ELCRN Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia IAF Industrial Areas Foundation MBOP Membership-Based Organization of the Poor NAMCOL Namibia College of Learning NHAG Namibia Housing Action Group NHK Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika NSS National Security State OVC Ovamboland People’s Congress RCC Roman Catholic Church SASO South African Students Organization viii SDI Shack and Slum Dwellers International SWAPO South West Africa People’s Organization SADF South African Defense Forces SDFN Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia UNIA Universal Negro Improvement Association WARC World Alliance of Reformed Congregations ix TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DEDICATION ........................................................................................................................ iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS....................................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................... vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................ viii Chapter I. The Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia: Women-Centered Community ........... Organizing and Womanism: Prospects for Power and Poverty Reduction ................ 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 3 Situating the Author ............................................................................................ 5 A Dialectical Model of the Philosophies and Practices that Frame Federasi Life8 Apartheid Theology and Namibian Liberation Theology ............................ 9 Afrikaner Nationalism and Black Consciousness ...................................... 11 Womanism and Patriarchy .......................................................................... 13 Power-Based Organizing and Women-Centered Organizing ..................... 15 The MBOP and Church-Based Charity ...................................................... 18 Thesis and Argument .......................................................................................... 22 Method ................................................................................................................ 23 The Structure of the Dissertation ....................................................................... 29 II. A Brief History of Namibia: From Contact and Conquest to Independence ......... 32 A Historical Summary of Namibia .................................................................... 32 Namibia under German Colonial Rule (1884-1915) ....................................... 33 Namibia under South African Rule (1915-1990) Apartheid and Economic Exploitation ....................................................... 36 Bantustans and Peasant
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