Berkley Center

Generations of travelers, historians, ethnographers, colonial administrators, humanitarian workers, celebrities, and NGO personnel have produced an enormous amount of knowledge about the Darfur. This course draws upon illustrative examples from the earliest forms of travel writing to the most recent forms of digital activism. Although recent events around the world have managed to divert attention from Darfur, its significance in international politics continued since the arrest warrant was issued for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1593, concerning genocide and war crimes in Darfur. The United Nations Security Council referred the case to Luis Moreno-Ocampo, former prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, after the investigation of Sudan's own special prosecutor had not led to war prosecutions, suggesting the failure of institutions of justice within the country. Events of this magnitude are to be expected given the pervasive political violence that engulfed the country following its independence from British rule in January 1956. Ever since, the Sudan was converted into a theatre of atrocity that shattered lives and rendered ordinary citizens perpetual refugees and internally displaced people in a vast territory, the largest in the African continent. Within this context, this course will examine multiple topics pertaining to the debates on genocide and ethnic cleansing, sexual violence, and conflict mediation. It examines local, national, international, and transnational responses to the crisis. This course (ANTH 350) was taught by Rogaia Mustafa Abusharaf as a Doyle Seminar in spring 2018. Please refer to the current course catalog for an up-to-date description of the course.