Outlook · Volume 10 · 2012Research paper

On liberal individualism, communitarianism and Ubuntu society in South Africa

Khali Mofuoa
Vodacom Group Limited
South Africa
Purpose

This paper aims to discuss the conflict between the philosophical traditions of liberal individualism and communitarianism as reflected in the Democratic Alliance’s liberal and the African National Congress’s socialist ideologies, and to shed some light on their implications for Ubuntu society in South Africa.

Design/Methodology/Approach

Using data mainly from desktop research, the theoretical or conceptual content of the paper was established to inform the discussions on the conflict between the philosophical traditions of liberal individualism and communitarianism in South Africa.

Findings

South African society has been bitterly locked in an ideological contestation between the philosophies of liberal individualism and communitarianism for its development path since the dawn of democratic dispensation in 1994. This ideological contestation has dire implications for the formation of Ubuntu society in South Africa.

Original/Value of the Paper

the paper uses mainly secondary data that is considered to be the most relevant, valid and reliable to inform discussions on the conflict between the philosophical traditions of liberal individualism and communitarianism in South Africa.

Keywords
Liberal individualismCommunitarianismIdeological contestationUbuntu societySouth AfricaDevelopment pathDemocratic AllianceAfrican National Congress