Migrant Acculturation
The institution of the A.N.C (African National Congress) as the ruling party in South Africa parliament has seen an influx of white Afrikaners into Australia. The majority of Afrikaners who immigrate to Australia find it difficult to adapt within a new society and culture. Proper investigations and a survey conducted made it clear that it is due to a number of reasons, such as the Afrikaners’ religious beliefs, language, and the laager mentality that characterized the Afrikaner culture. The Social Science method of inquiry was followed to determine the above reasons. Culture, to the anthropologist, is a set of rules or standards that, when acted upon by the members of a society, produce behaviour that falls within a range of variance the members consider proper and acceptable. (Havilan, William (1987). Cultural Anthropology. New York; Holt, R and W). All cultures share basic characteristics. Culture consists of shared ideals, values, and standards of behaviour. It cannot exist without society. Society may be defined as a group of people who are dependent on each other for survival and share a common culture. An Afrikaner is defined as a white South African whose language is Afrikaans, derived from 17th-century Dutch dialect. The social structure of the Afrikaner is very similar to that of the Australians. Most attend their own churches and community functions, and live in different parts of the city.