期刊名称：Journal on Ethnopolitics and Minority Issues in Europe
电子版ISSN：1617-5247
出版年度：2018
卷号：17
期号：2
页码：1-30
出版社：European Centre for Minority Issues
摘要：The Afrikaans-speaking community in South Africa is comprised of different races,
classes and religions, but they share the common bond of language. Historically, the
white section of the Afrikaans community, generally referring to themselves as
‘Afrikaners’, exercised substantial political, economic and social power through
control of government institutions. The new Constitution, which is now in its 22nd
year, has brought about democracy, but in the process the Afrikaans community had to
adjust to a position of limited political and policy power. This article looks at the
complexity of the Afrikaans community and specifically poses the question whether
the community is a ‘minority’ for purposes of international law and if so, whether it is
entitled to a ‘right’ to autonomy. It concludes that although the community is a
‘minority’ for purposes of international law, there is no general ‘right’ to autonomy for
minorities in international law. The article then considers various constitutional
arrangements in South Africa in particular provincial autonomy; mother-tongue public
education; the potential for community councils; and the activities of some Afrikaans
non-governmental organisations. The article concludes that (a) the South African
Constitution complies with international standards in regards to protection of
minorities; (b) territorial arrangements in the Western Cape and Northern Cape are
consistent with indirect mechanisms to protect minorities; (c) the advisory
commissions that have been established under the Constitution have not been effective
to protect and promote the multilingual and multicultural nature of the South African
population; (d) the possible establishment of a community council for the Afrikaans
community requires further consideration; and (e) publicly funded Afrikaans education
will continue to be under increasing pressure as the result of demands being placed on
the state for equal, basic education in English to the wider community.
关键词：self;determination; protection of minorities; Afrikaans; Constitution of South
