Darfur Crisis

Paper Summary:

In this article the writer discusses that the Darfur crisis as it exists today is the result of a convergence of domestic political and cultural causes, within the context of regional political and environmental circumstances, all of which are being looked upon with good-intentioned neglect by the international community. This essay explores the Darfur crisis with a focus on discerning the root causes of the crisis from its more immediate direct causes. The thesis is argued, while its direct causes seem to lie in a botched counter-insurgency program launched by the Sudanese government which coincided with drought and regional environmental issues, its root causes lie in the structuring of the Sudanese state in the wake of colonialism. As is seen, the inability of the Sudanese government to address the complex needs of diverse groups within its state lies ultimately at the root of the Darfur crisis, with implications both for the Sudan and other post-colonial states.

From the Paper:

"Prunier's observation is valuable in two respects: first, he cites the fact that the Sudan has been internationally recognized for another long-running civil conflict in its recent history, and secondly that the causes of the Darfur crisis are not immediately clear or easy to understand. The reference to the Sudan's history of internal civil conflict is particularly significant, as it suggests that there are systemic problems in the Sudanese state that extend beyond the confines of the Darfur crisis. It may be argued that these problems are the "root" causes of the Darfur crisis.
"The Sudan as it exists today is largely a legacy of the colonial era, when the British empire governed vast swathes of Africa. However, a defining characteristic of the Sudan from its colonial period has been the combination of enormous territory and diverse ethnic populations, with an overcentralized state."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Flint, Julie and De Waal, Alex. Darfur: A Short History. London: Zed Books, 2005.
• Prunier, Gerald. "The Politics of Death in Darfur." Current History. May 2006: 195-202.
• "Responsibility to Protect." Report of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty. December 2001. Accessed: March 12, 2007. http://www.iciss.ca/report2-en.asp

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