Breaking Sudan: The Search for Peace

Description

In 2005, twenty-two years of civil war in Sudan were brought to an end by the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Negotiations between north and south had ended in compromise, however, and hopes of a unified state that was open, democratic and secular, had fallen to secession. Following South Sudan's declaration of independence in 2011, political tensions have led to conflict in both countries and now there is even the growing threat of a war between them. The situation is, arguably, worse than it ever has been before. Sudan expert Jok Madut Jok investigates how violence has once more come to dominate a region where various political groups remain separated by deep-rooted mistrust and ethnic relations are nothing short of wrecked. Dissecting the failure of the peace agreement, he confronts the frightening possibility that it may have actually, in effect, legitimized the use of violence for the achievement of political goals. More than just a scrupulous survey of two countries ravaged by war, The Breakup of Sudan features starkly drawn portraits that provide a moving insight into how the Sudanese of the postsecession era continue to live with war.

Jok Madut Jok is a professor of anthropology at the University of Juba, South Sudan, and executive director of the Sudd Institute, a public policy research centre. After South Sudan became independent, Jok served as undersecretary in the newly formed government's Ministry of Culture and Heritage for two years.

'This book is valuable as an articulation of important ideas and perspectives that are part of the South Sudanese debate. The book is also important as it places the reader in the middle of these complicated, unfolding and sometimes contradictory debates.' * Sudan Studies * 'In Breaking Sudan,Jok Maduk Jok attempts to explain why the end of the prolonged north-south conflicts and the break-up of the country...has paradoxically created more conflict... He listens closely to how violence and militarization have affected individuals' lives.' * New Internationalist * 'There are lessons here for all those mediators, diplomats and politicians who carve up countries in the name of peace.' * Richard Cockett, Literary Review * 'An extraordinarily ambitious account...[Jok's] impressive research is critical to the very large success of this book, particularly as it draws on extensive fieldwork that very few are capable of.' -- Eric Reeves, Senior Fellow, Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard University 'One of South Sudan's leading writers shows that his country cannot be understood if its history as part of Sudan is brushed aside.' -- Gill Lusk, Chair, Society for the Study of the Sudans UK 'This is a prodigious effort that unpacks the intricate and often multi-layered aspects of political fragility in Sudan and South Sudan...Jok does not pull punches...Whether one agrees or not with his assertions, this book is a wonderful addition to the body of literature on a restive corner of Africa.' -- Brian Adeba, Associate Director of Policy on Sudan and South Sudan, Enough Project