Economic Impact of Xenophobia in the 2ist Century and the Future of International Relations: A Case of South Africa

Abstract

The 21st century global system is bedeviled with various forms of upheavals ranging from the problems of terrorism in sub-Saharan Africa, the Islamic state militias in the Middle East and the recent xenophobic attack in South Africa, calls for a global concern in the quest for world peace.In this regards therefore, the concern of the study is geared towards probing the cause and effect of xenophobia particularly in South Africa after a chronicle of past xenophobic attacks in the country on foreign African nationals before the April 14th, 2015 attack. However, the study adopted the Marxian post-colonial state theory as a framework  of analysis hence; a descriptive research method was employed to gather responses on the impact of xenophobia on other African countries. The study revealed that xenophobia in South Africa has negatively affected inter-states relations between the country and other African countries. Also, the study showed that the issue had multiplier effects in terms of trade relations, economic relations, and tourism development among nations of Africa, which is not good for the already turgid security environment of the continent. In view of these problems, the paper recommends among others, that a-Roll Back xenophobia legislation should be enacted as a charter in the African Union to serve as a proactive measure towards curtailing the malaise.