Xenophobia and its impact on culture integration. A critical analysis of Zambia's case

Academic Paper from the year 2017 in the subject Cultural Studies - Miscellaneous, , language: English, abstract: Over the last 50 years, Zambia has never experienced xenophobia or any form of social instability, a record of which made the country become known as a beacon of peace worldwide. However, one of the most horrific incidents took place in 2016, when two foreigners were burnt alive in the capital Lusaka by a mob of local residents angered by a presence of foreigners.

This hostility towards foreigners spread across some parts of the country and resulted in a destruction of shops and businesses owned by foreigners. A series of these events came to be known as xenophobia. The incidences of xenophobia were widely covered by the media and had a huge impact on culture integration and the country's image. Zambia's experience of xenophobia affected peace and remains a threat to cultural integration despite the country remaining home to refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants coming from Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This study aims at assessing xenophobia, its predicates, causes and effects. Thus, the paper examines and critically analyses xenophobia and its impact on cultural integration in Zambia's case.