Negotiating National Identity: Minority Perspectives among Zinjibaris in Oman and Nubians in Egypt within State-Led Frameworks

National identity can be seen as one of the most important factors in the construction and maintenance of a nation. Benedict Anderson emphasizes this importance in his theory of an “Imagined Political Community”, whereby a subconscious feeling of belonging is needed within a group in order to establish the existence and continuation of a nation. However, this feeling of belonging is not automatically established, but requires the help of several concepts that can define an identity. Language, culture and history can be seen as three overarching concepts that aid in the feeling of belonging, thereby aiding in the construction of a nation identity felt within a nation. Oftentimes, the state within a nation makes use of these concepts to further emphasize the way its population should feel connected to their nation, and thereby the state. However, while looking at Arab states, entire populations do not necessarily align with state-led views, allowing for the formation of minorities....Show moreNational identity can be seen as one of the most important factors in the construction and maintenance of a nation. Benedict Anderson emphasizes this importance in his theory of an “Imagined Political Community”, whereby a subconscious feeling of belonging is needed within a group in order to establish the existence and continuation of a nation. However, this feeling of belonging is not automatically established, but requires the help of several concepts that can define an identity. Language, culture and history can be seen as three overarching concepts that aid in the feeling of belonging, thereby aiding in the construction of a nation identity felt within a nation. Oftentimes, the state within a nation makes use of these concepts to further emphasize the way its population should feel connected to their nation, and thereby the state. However, while looking at Arab states, entire populations do not necessarily align with state-led views, allowing for the formation of minorities. Two such minorities within Arab states are the Swahili speaking Zinjibaris in Oman and the Nubians in Egypt. While differing in history, as the Zinjibaris have only been present in Oman since the 1960s, and the Nubians since the pharaonic era, each minority is still able to find themselves as minorities within an Arab majority. This thesis thereby focuses on the extent to which each of these minorities aligns themselves with the state-led views on national identity and that of the majority population of each respective country. Each of the minorities is able to negotiate and construct their national identities within the framework of state-led national identity formation in different ways. Keeping the concepts language, culture and history in mind, the Zinjibaris are able to find themselves in the state’s perspective of a culturally diverse Omani national identity. In contrast, the Nubians are not able to find themselves within the Egyptian state-led views of a religiously diverse country, whereby Nubian heritage preservation takes the primary role in the Nubian perspective of national identity. Thus, portraying the difference in the way minorities are able to feel a sense of belonging in their countries of residence.Show less

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Negotiating National Identity: Minority Perspectives among Zinjibaris in Oman and Nubians in Egypt within State-Led Frameworks