Reshaping Identity Politics: Capitalising on Shari‘a Debate in the Sudan

The relationship between religious identity, ethnic identity, and politics has always been a problematic one, especially in plural societies like Sudan. This article is an attempt to understand the reasons behind the insistence of the popular parties of the Muslim majority in Northern Sudan on establishing shar’ia law as the law of the land. By using secondary data on party programmes, public opinion, and an analysis of political events, I reconstruct the evolution of the debate in order to identify its prime movers. My conclusion is that this debate emerged as a result of the quest for a national identity by the majority group, who are predominantly Muslim and identify as Arab. Contrary to the common belief that principles of identity politics generally only apply to minority groups, I argue that the constant pressure from popular parties in Sudan to apply shari’a law shows that where the identity of the majority group is unclear or problematic, there is a tendency to use strong cultural symbols as an aid to political mobilisation by elites who claim to meet the presumed demands of the public. Raising the banner of shari’a is an effective way not only to exclude non-Muslims from playing central roles in national politics, but also to undermine the roles of other politically moderate Muslims