Seeing like a state vs. seeing like a local community: the case of dam construction in Nubian homeland, Sudan

Abstract

The Current research focuses on issue of proposed Kajbar Dam in the context of the Nile in the Sudan. The government of the country is involved in building dam on the part of the Nile that passes through the very north of the country. This area is inhabited by Nubians, one of the oldest African civilizations, dating back to 8000 B.C. Nor is this the first time they experience developments such as the ones described. The particular focus of my project was an exploration of the debate about the proposed Kajbar dam in the Nubian region of Sudan, with reference to the discourses of various actors - government, opposition movements and local population - regarding the dams' feasibility and future impact. I wish in this way to show how each category of actors evaluates the economic, social, cultural and the environmental impact of the dam differently and the power relations of these conflicting visions. Addressing such issues in the case of a country like Sudan is even more important, as the unity of the country is fragile and ethnic loyalties are far stronger than Sudanese national identity".