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A Biographical Study of White Afrikaans Speaking Identity in Central South Africa

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A Biographical Study of White Afrikaans Speaking Identity in Central South Africa Old stories and new chapters: A biographical study of white Afrikaans speaking identity in central South Africa by Paul Conrad Kotze Dissertation submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree MAGISTER SOCIETATIS SCIENTIAE: SOCIOLOGY (The Narrative Study of Lives) in the FACULTY OF THE HUMANITIES (Department of Sociology) at the UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE February 2013 Bloemfontein, South Africa Supervisor: Prof Jan K Coetzee (Department of Sociology, UFS) Co-supervisor: Dr Florian Elliker (Department of Sociology, UFS) DECLARATION I hereby declare that this dissertation submitted in completion of the degree Magister Artium at the University of the Free State is my own, original work and has not been submitted previously at another university, faculty or department. I furthermore concede copyright of this dissertation to the University of the Free State. Paul Conrad Kotze Bloemfontein, South Africa February 2013 i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am greatly indebted to the following people and institutions, all of whom played a role in making this dissertation possible through their ongoing support, advice and understanding: My supervisors, Prof Jan K Coetzee and Dr Florian Elliker, for the stimulus to undertake this study, and the guidance and direction needed to make a success of it. My colleagues in the Department of Sociology and the programme in The Narrative Study of Lives, for their assistance and shared wisdom during the course of this study. The National Research Foundation (NRF) and UFS Research Cluster on Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Development, for their financial support, without which this study would not have been possible. My family and friends and especially my parents, Paul and Josina Kotze, for encouraging me to pursue my dreams and providing a foundation of material and emotional support that enabled me to do so. My fiancée, Christi Nortjé, for her loving heart, listening ear, and the opportunity to share a beautiful story. ii CONTENTS, LIST OF FIGURES AND APPENDICES iii CONTENTS Introduction....................................................................................................................................1 PART 1: THEORETICAL AND EPISTEMOLOGICAL BASIS Chapter 1: An interpretive sociological foundation 1.1. Situating the research study.................................................................................................5 1.1.1. Ontology .................................................................................................................. 6 1.1.2. Epistemology ........................................................................................................... 7 1.1.3. Axiology .................................................................................................................. 9 1.1.4. Rhetoric and language ............................................................................................ 11 1.1.5. Methodology .......................................................................................................... 12 1.2. Theoretical foundation .................................................................................................. 13 1.2.1. Phenomenology...................................................................................................... 13 1.2.2. Reflexive sociology ............................................................................................... 19 1.2.3. Existential sociology and the sociology of emotion .............................................. 21 1.2.4. Micro-macro and agency-structure integration ...................................................... 22 1.3. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 23 Chapter 2: Defining identity 2.1. Identity as an ambiguous concept ................................................................................. 24 2.2. Themes of white Afrikaans speaking identity ............................................................... 26 2.2.1. Race........................................................................................................................ 28 2.2.2. Religion .................................................................................................................. 32 2.2.3. Nationalism ............................................................................................................ 35 2.2.4. A workable definition of identity ........................................................................... 37 2.3. Relevant theories of identity ......................................................................................... 38 2.3.1. The Communication Theory of Identity ................................................................ 38 2.3.2. The mythical self .................................................................................................... 40 2.3.3. Theory integration: The storied self ....................................................................... 42 2.4. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 44 iv PART 2: LITERATURE REVIEW AND METHODOLOGY Chapter 3: A history of white Afrikaans speaking identity 3.2. Collective representations and historical knowledge .................................................... 47 3.3. A history of white Afrikaans speaking identity ............................................................ 51 3.3.1. Conception: 1652 – 1699 ....................................................................................... 51 3.3.2. Formation and development: 1700 – 1799 ............................................................ 53 3.3.3. Rebellion and the drive to freedom: 1800 - 1899 .................................................. 56 3.3.4. Loss, assimilation and rise to power: 1900 – 1994 ................................................ 59 3.3.5. Reconceptualisation: 1994 – present ..................................................................... 62 3.4. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 63 Chapter 4: Towards understanding through a storytelling methodology 4.1. Framing a qualitative methodology ............................................................................... 66 4.1.1 Understanding vs explanation ................................................................................ 67 4.1.2. Intersubjective understanding ................................................................................ 68 4.1.3. Gaining understanding through a storytelling methodology ................................. 70 4.1.4. The role of mystery ................................................................................................ 73 4.1.5. Identifying and solving mystery ............................................................................ 76 4.2. Methodological account ................................................................................................ 81 4.2.1. Sampling ................................................................................................................ 81 4.2.2. Ethics and participant protection ........................................................................... 83 4.2.3. Data collection ....................................................................................................... 83 4.2.4. Data analysis .......................................................................................................... 91 4.2.5. Data representation ................................................................................................ 96 4.3. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 98 v PART 3: DATA AND CONCLUSION Chapter 5: Contemporary white Afrikaans speaking identity 5.1. Regarding the chosen typology ................................................................................... 100 5.2. The Afrikaanses ........................................................................................................... 103 5.2.1. ‘The true Afrikaner is a living fossil’: The narrative repertoire .......................... 104 5.2.2. Race...................................................................................................................... 106 5.2.3. Religion ................................................................................................................ 108 5.2.4. Nationalism .......................................................................................................... 108 5.3. The Pseudo-Boers ....................................................................................................... 109 5.3.1. ‘There are traitors among our people, as always’: The narrative repertoire ........ 110 5.3.2. Race...................................................................................................................... 111 5.3.3. Religion ................................................................................................................ 113 5.3.4. Nationalism .......................................................................................................... 114 5.4. The Afrikaners ............................................................................................................. 116 5.4.1. ‘The Afrikaners are more defined than that’: The narrative
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