Proposing a Social Justice Approach to Diaconia for a South African Context
South Africa, although a “young” democracy, has quickly become one of the most economically uneven nations due to its history of segregation and discrimination as contributing factors. South Africans have seen an increase in the number of protests over the past several years because of the frustrati...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/5/668 |
| _version_ | 1797598461383671808 |
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| author | Jacques Walter Beukes Laurika Elouise Beukes |
| author_facet | Jacques Walter Beukes Laurika Elouise Beukes |
| author_sort | Jacques Walter Beukes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | South Africa, although a “young” democracy, has quickly become one of the most economically uneven nations due to its history of segregation and discrimination as contributing factors. South Africans have seen an increase in the number of protests over the past several years because of the frustration that has been caused by unbearable living circumstances, a lack of service delivery, and empty promises made by the government. Poverty, unemployment, and social injustice are seen by the South African government as the most important obstacles that need to be overcome to construct a prosperous nation. Despite the government’s commitment to a “<i>better life for all</i>” since 1994, the post-apartheid South African government has predominantly prioritised civil and political rights in its efforts to address social injustices, while the socio-economic needs of the country’s impoverished and marginalised populations have remained largely unfulfilled. The degradation of human dignity that results from conditions such as poverty and unemployment is significant. A violation of one’s dignity can also occur when one is excluded from efforts to combat issues such as poverty and unemployment, which should be considered. Amidst all of this, the church is criticised for remaining silent and doing little to address the situation. This article proposes social justice as an ideal approach to diaconia and development. Therefore, it seeks to understand and include social justice principles as a means of empowering people to ensure effective development. The objective of long-term poverty reduction cannot be accomplished unless there is an emphasis placed on social justice. This article conducts an in-depth analysis of a variety of social justice theories to rationalise a social justice approach to diaconia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:22:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7589e96f22f74750b2fcc38c64999d29 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:22:27Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-7589e96f22f74750b2fcc38c64999d292023-11-18T03:05:31ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442023-05-0114566810.3390/rel14050668Proposing a Social Justice Approach to Diaconia for a South African ContextJacques Walter Beukes0Laurika Elouise Beukes1Department Practical Theology and Mission Studies, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South AfricaDepartment Practical Theology and Mission Studies, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South AfricaSouth Africa, although a “young” democracy, has quickly become one of the most economically uneven nations due to its history of segregation and discrimination as contributing factors. South Africans have seen an increase in the number of protests over the past several years because of the frustration that has been caused by unbearable living circumstances, a lack of service delivery, and empty promises made by the government. Poverty, unemployment, and social injustice are seen by the South African government as the most important obstacles that need to be overcome to construct a prosperous nation. Despite the government’s commitment to a “<i>better life for all</i>” since 1994, the post-apartheid South African government has predominantly prioritised civil and political rights in its efforts to address social injustices, while the socio-economic needs of the country’s impoverished and marginalised populations have remained largely unfulfilled. The degradation of human dignity that results from conditions such as poverty and unemployment is significant. A violation of one’s dignity can also occur when one is excluded from efforts to combat issues such as poverty and unemployment, which should be considered. Amidst all of this, the church is criticised for remaining silent and doing little to address the situation. This article proposes social justice as an ideal approach to diaconia and development. Therefore, it seeks to understand and include social justice principles as a means of empowering people to ensure effective development. The objective of long-term poverty reduction cannot be accomplished unless there is an emphasis placed on social justice. This article conducts an in-depth analysis of a variety of social justice theories to rationalise a social justice approach to diaconia.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/5/668social justicediaconiaSouth AfricaJohn Rawl’s theorySen’s capability approachNancy Fraser’s Social Justice theory |
| spellingShingle | Jacques Walter Beukes Laurika Elouise Beukes Proposing a Social Justice Approach to Diaconia for a South African Context Religions social justice diaconia South Africa John Rawl’s theory Sen’s capability approach Nancy Fraser’s Social Justice theory |
| title | Proposing a Social Justice Approach to Diaconia for a South African Context |
| title_full | Proposing a Social Justice Approach to Diaconia for a South African Context |
| title_fullStr | Proposing a Social Justice Approach to Diaconia for a South African Context |
| title_full_unstemmed | Proposing a Social Justice Approach to Diaconia for a South African Context |
| title_short | Proposing a Social Justice Approach to Diaconia for a South African Context |
| title_sort | proposing a social justice approach to diaconia for a south african context |
| topic | social justice diaconia South Africa John Rawl’s theory Sen’s capability approach Nancy Fraser’s Social Justice theory |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/5/668 |
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