The role of ethnic identities in the national identity construction process in sudan: The period of Islamist political practices

In the modern world, societies are undergoing a rapid process of transformation shaped by cultural diversity. Sudan, as a country characterized by social, cultural, ethnic, religious, and linguistic diversity, has been directly affected by this transformation. However, since its independence in 1956, despite this diversity, the issue of identity has emerged as one of the most fundamental and complex challenges of state-building in Sudan's modern history. The ongoing tensions among identity elements such as Arabness, Africanness, and Islam have deepened particularly during the period of Islamist political practices (1989–2019), during which ethnic differences were not managed in an adequately inclusive manner. This situation has laid the groundwork for social conflicts and national identity crises. This thesis aims to examine the role of ethnic identities in the process of national identity construction in Sudan and how these roles were shaped during the period of Islamist political practices. The study seeks to shed light on the historical and sociopolitical processes that have influenced identity formation in Sudan and to contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics that emerged during this process. In particular, the main research question addresses whether other ethnic identities were adequately represented during the Islamist political era, in which Arab identity was foregrounded, and how this was reflected in the formation of national identity. In the research, a qualitative methodology widely used in the social sciences was adopted. Within this framework, field research was conducted through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 17 participants consisting of Sudanese academics. The data obtained were analyzed thematically using the MAXQDA 2020 software. Focusing on how ethnic identity is constructed in the context of national identity, the study analyzes how identities are shaped at the political level. The findings reveal that policies implemented during the Islamist political period in Sudan significantly influenced ethnic identities and contributed to various divisions and representation problems in the construction of national identity. At present, a societal consensus on Sudanese identity has not yet been achieved. This study contributes to understanding the historical and contemporary dimensions of identity politics in Sudan, particularly within the context of the Islamist governance period, and provides a theoretical basis for research examining the relationship between ethnic identity and political stability.