Nonhlanhla Cleopatra Masinga* and Thandazile Mathabela
Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
*Email: [email protected]
Abstract: With young people constituting more than half of the South African population, they hold a pivotal role as custodians of its future. As the demographic majority, their opinions and worldview will have a significant impact on the trajectory of South African society. Understanding their perspectives on the future is essential for gaining insights into the collective aspirations, challenges and possible paths that the country may take as a whole. This study explored future perceptions of South African youth, seeking to understand the complexities that shape their perspective and contribute valuable insight to guide the formulation of strategies and policies for the nation’s advancement. The study made use of both the traditional Danziger (1963) method of future ideologies, and the collective futures framework proposed by Bain et al. (2013). Findings showed that liberal and catastrophic future ideologies were salient and there were no significant race differences. However, socio-economic class rather than race was the primary divider among South African groups, emphasising the potential influence of economic status on perceptions. The results also showed that social context was a significant factor in shaping future outlook, particularly during adolescence.
Keywords: Adolescence; Collective Futures; Future Perceptions; Ideologies; South Africa.