First Advisor

Barbara Tint

Date of Publication

1-1-2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.) in Conflict Resolution

Department

Conflict Resolution

Language

English

Subjects

Northern Arab Muslims, Southern African Christians, Animists, Sudan -- History -- Civil War (1983-2005), Islam -- Relations -- Christianity, Ethnic conflict -- Sudan -- Religious aspects, Social conflict -- Sudan -- Cross-cultural studies

DOI

10.15760/etd.184

Physical Description

1 online resource (vii, 103 p.) : ill.

Abstract

The conflict in Sudan reflects historic hatred and ethnic discrimination between Northern Arab Muslims and Southern African Christians and Animists. The longest and worst conflict began in 1983 and ended in 2005, when African Christians and Animists struggled to form an interim autonomous government. This conflict claimed 2 million lives from both sides and displaced almost 4 million people from the South. This thesis attempts to understand how people from Southern Sudan perceive the root causes and sustaining factors of the Sudanese conflict between Arab Muslims and African Christians. This research looks specifically into the roles of ethnic differences and religion. In this study, 10 emigrants from South Sudan were chosen to present their perceptions and views about the conflict, in the form of written responses to 22 questions. Analysis of their responses in light of conflict resolution literature suggests that the North-South Sudan conflict involves complex issues primarily fueled by ethnic and religious differences. This research reveals that South Sudanese refugees from varying backgrounds and professions expressed similar experiences of racial, religious discrimination and political and economic marginalization, and suggests that Sudan's July, 2011 declaration of independence, creating two separate nations, North and South Sudan, was a positive solution to achieving a just peace.

Rights

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Comments

Portland State University. Dept. of Conflict Resolution

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/7244

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