Church, Social Justice, and Race in South Africa and Zimbabwe

This timely and interdisciplinary volume offers a critical exploration of race, migration, and the role of the church in fostering peace and justice in contemporary Southern Africa. Against the backdrop of growing global tensions surrounding race and immigration, the book foregrounds the complexities of racism and xenophobia in South Africa and Zimbabwe—two nations where these issues remain deeply entrenched. Bringing together scholars from across the humanities, social sciences, theology, and law, this collection interrogates the social and political conditions that have fueled anti-immigrant sentiment, particularly toward Zimbabweans in South Africa. It also examines the urgent and often overlooked responsibility of the church in promoting racial reconciliation and social cohesion. With a strong emphasis on cross-disciplinary dialogue, this volume provides fresh perspectives on how faith communities can address systemic injustice and respond to the lived realities of migrants and marginalized groups. A vital resource for scholars, policymakers, clergy, and activists alike, Race, Church, and Society challenges us to reimagine the church’s place in a fractured world, and its power to heal it.