• Version
• Download 123
• File Size 298.84 KB
• File Count 1
• Create Date 26th November 2012
• Last Updated 26th November 2012

On liberal individualism, communitarianism and Ubuntu society in South Africa, Khali Victor Mofuoa

Khali Victor 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.
Originality/value: 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 individualism; Communitarianism; Ideological contestation; Ubuntu society; South Africa; Development path; Democratic Alliance; African National Congress

Attached Files