History as an Instrument of Contemporary International Conflicts: The Case of the Sudanese States
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Joanna Bar
Abstract
The aim of the paper is to analyse the historical conditions of the conflict between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan - the origins of the discord and prospects for ending this and the future peaceful coexistence of the two states. The main emphasis will be put on highlighting the most important moments of the history of both Sudanese states - until 2011 common - in order to show in the historical factors the premises of the conflict, which, despite the separation of the two states, has not been ended until today. This conflict already existed in the pre-colonial period, when Arab Muslims from the North organised raids on Christian and animist shepherds from the Dinka and Nuer tribes living in the South to sell them to slave traders. During the colonial period, when Sudan as an Anglo-Egyptian condominium was ruled by the British, the latter, in order to protect minority rights and prevent the Islamisation of the South, perpetuated religious-ethnic divisions, to the detriment of both parts of Sudan, including differences in the pace of economic development. These policies bear at least partial responsibility for the successive phases of the long civil war that erupted after independence (1956), in protest against the unequal treatment of the two parts of the country, followed by attempts to impose Islamic law throughout the state (1983). Today, the two countries should conclude negotiations on the course of the common border and define the principles of cooperation in the field of oil transit. However, the future of the two states will take a separate course, contrary to historical experience, but in accordance with the sense of cultural and civilisational belonging. The Republic of Sudan will permanently enter the Arab world, while the Republic of South Sudan will bind its future to its southern neighbours.
Abstract
The aim of the paper is to analyse the historical conditions of the conflict between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan - the origins of the discord and prospects for ending this and the future peaceful coexistence of the two states. The main emphasis will be put on highlighting the most important moments of the history of both Sudanese states - until 2011 common - in order to show in the historical factors the premises of the conflict, which, despite the separation of the two states, has not been ended until today. This conflict already existed in the pre-colonial period, when Arab Muslims from the North organised raids on Christian and animist shepherds from the Dinka and Nuer tribes living in the South to sell them to slave traders. During the colonial period, when Sudan as an Anglo-Egyptian condominium was ruled by the British, the latter, in order to protect minority rights and prevent the Islamisation of the South, perpetuated religious-ethnic divisions, to the detriment of both parts of Sudan, including differences in the pace of economic development. These policies bear at least partial responsibility for the successive phases of the long civil war that erupted after independence (1956), in protest against the unequal treatment of the two parts of the country, followed by attempts to impose Islamic law throughout the state (1983). Today, the two countries should conclude negotiations on the course of the common border and define the principles of cooperation in the field of oil transit. However, the future of the two states will take a separate course, contrary to historical experience, but in accordance with the sense of cultural and civilisational belonging. The Republic of Sudan will permanently enter the Arab world, while the Republic of South Sudan will bind its future to its southern neighbours.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Introduction 1
-
Between Wikipedia and a Museum: Historical Narrative “Tools”
- Memory Politics and the Study of Crises in International Relations: Insights from Ukraine and Lithuania 11
- Local Memory, International Conflicts: Case Study of the Katyn Memorial in Jersey City, USA 41
- Sources of International Conflicts in Contemporary and Historical Context as a Threat to the Global Democratic and Liberal Order: Causes of Occurrence and Ways of Eradication 59
- The Role of Historical Museums in Overcoming the Traumatic Past 77
- Wiki-History of Crimea: Ukrainian and Russian Versions 91
- The Problem of Preserving Monumental Objects of Art during Contemporary International Conflicts (on the Example of the Russian-Ukrainian Conflict) 105
-
From Different Perspectives: History as an Instrument of Politics
- Historically Charged Conflict: Nagorno-Karabakh between War and Diplomatic Failure 119
- History as an Instrument of Continuing Indo-Pakistan Rivalry from 1947 till 2021 139
- National History as Tools of Installing National Borders in Central Asia Countries 157
- Belgium – Its Neighbours and the Process from a Centralised to a Federalist State 165
- History as an Instrument of Contemporary International Conflicts: The Case of the Sudanese States 179
- The Comparison of Russian Propaganda: From the Years 1917–1921 to Nowadays 193
- List of Contributors 209
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Introduction 1
-
Between Wikipedia and a Museum: Historical Narrative “Tools”
- Memory Politics and the Study of Crises in International Relations: Insights from Ukraine and Lithuania 11
- Local Memory, International Conflicts: Case Study of the Katyn Memorial in Jersey City, USA 41
- Sources of International Conflicts in Contemporary and Historical Context as a Threat to the Global Democratic and Liberal Order: Causes of Occurrence and Ways of Eradication 59
- The Role of Historical Museums in Overcoming the Traumatic Past 77
- Wiki-History of Crimea: Ukrainian and Russian Versions 91
- The Problem of Preserving Monumental Objects of Art during Contemporary International Conflicts (on the Example of the Russian-Ukrainian Conflict) 105
-
From Different Perspectives: History as an Instrument of Politics
- Historically Charged Conflict: Nagorno-Karabakh between War and Diplomatic Failure 119
- History as an Instrument of Continuing Indo-Pakistan Rivalry from 1947 till 2021 139
- National History as Tools of Installing National Borders in Central Asia Countries 157
- Belgium – Its Neighbours and the Process from a Centralised to a Federalist State 165
- History as an Instrument of Contemporary International Conflicts: The Case of the Sudanese States 179
- The Comparison of Russian Propaganda: From the Years 1917–1921 to Nowadays 193
- List of Contributors 209
