http://blogs.ssrc.org/darfur/2008/07/11/bashir-and-the-milosevic-precedent/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:36:10 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://blogs.ssrc.org/darfur/2008/07/11/bashir-and-the-milosevic-precedent/comment-page-1/#comment-1938 Alex de Waal Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:32:02 +0000 http://blogs.ssrc.org/darfur/?p=571#comment-1938 Adam LeBor's contribution invites one comment based on Sudan's history. Twice since independence, Sudanese civil society has led a non-violent popular uprising that has brought down a military dictatorship, once in 1964 and the second time in 1985. Sudanese activists long for a third intifada that will bring democracy and justice to Sudan. However, most agree that the prospects for this are remote. On seizing power in 1989, one of the first acts of Pres. Bashir and the National Islamic Front was a campaign of repression and terror aimed at civil society groups. It was sadly effective. But perhaps even more effective at dismantling the capability of Sudanese civil society to mobilize has been the commercialization of the voluntary sector. Long gone are the days when professionals, students and ordinary citizens mobilized in a spirit of voluntarism--today most in the NGO sector are concerned with writing their grant proposals. Once a vibrant force, Sudanese civil society is today a shadow of its former self. Adam LeBor’s contribution invites one comment based on Sudan’s history. Twice since independence, Sudanese civil society has led a non-violent popular uprising that has brought down a military dictatorship, once in 1964 and the second time in 1985. Sudanese activists long for a third intifada that will bring democracy and justice to Sudan. However, most agree that the prospects for this are remote. On seizing power in 1989, one of the first acts of Pres. Bashir and the National Islamic Front was a campaign of repression and terror aimed at civil society groups. It was sadly effective. But perhaps even more effective at dismantling the capability of Sudanese civil society to mobilize has been the commercialization of the voluntary sector. Long gone are the days when professionals, students and ordinary citizens mobilized in a spirit of voluntarism–today most in the NGO sector are concerned with writing their grant proposals. Once a vibrant force, Sudanese civil society is today a shadow of its former self.

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