271. Introduction: Many Sudans
John Ryle & Justin Willis
The future of Sudan, in the second decade of the twenty-first century, is
filled with uncertainty. As of 2011 it ceased to be a unified nation state;
and the process of territorial separation of north from south could well
be accompanied by a renewal of conflict. The Sudan that was created in
the nineteenth century through invasion and imperial rule by Egypt and
Britain no longer exists. This represents a radical change.
Whatever happens in coming years, however, events will continue
to be shaped by the legacy of nineteenth-century state-building, by the
conquests that preceded imperial rule and the political projects that
followed it in the post-independence era. An understanding of events
as they unfold today needs to be informed by a knowledge of what lies
behind them: an understanding of the geographical, cultural and histor-
ical components of the country that has been created over the past two
centuries, and the repeating patterns of state formation and decay which
have shaped and been shaped by its political institutions and economic
history.
In 2004, in order to focus attention on these issues of politics and
development in Sudan, the Rift Valley Institute organized the first
Sudan field course. The course has been held each year since, then,
usually in Rumbek Senior Secondary School, in Lakes State. It consists
of a week of intensive teaching covering all aspects of the country
and brings together a teaching staff – mostly professional academics,
both Sudanese and non-Sudanese – and a student body composed of
diplomats, humanitarian workers, development professionals and
graduate students from Sudanese universities. The Sudan HandbookThe Sudan Handbook, edited by John Ryle, Justin Willis, Suliman Baldo and Jok Madut Jok. © 2011 Rift Valley Institute and contributors reflects^ the^ spirit^ of^ collective^ enquiry,^ diversity^ of^ views^ and^ sharing^ of^
(www.riftvalley.net).