Bloodletting in South Sudan

Ong The most effective way to look at the crisis in South Sudan is through the lens of neoliberalism. By addressing the ways in which growing global concerns for social justice interact with both education and the global economy, we can better understand the root of the conflict, and thus ways in which the Sudanese may be helped.

It is imperative that global entities and institutions focus on educating peacemakers and policy makers about the underlying causes of the bloodletting in South Sudan. Such an education requires both moral lessons and technical training. A typical de-briefing on the situation would be insufficient, as it would focus solely on definite events and overlook the humanistic concerns and cultural values which could provide significant insight into the root of the conflict.

The current situation in South Sudan is an illustration of how crucial such education is to our future. In the past, an increased focus on moral and humanitarian education has proven effective in hindering war—for example in the United States, white southerners initially sustained white civilization with a romantic and ethnocentric nationalism that celebrated aristocratic origins, social Darwinism, and slavery. Education and the promotion of liberal ideas were central to eventually shaping a democratic and more tolerant nation.

Likewise, education is essential as it may allow the humanitarian parties in South Sudan and neighboring nations to shift their views on the conflict from narrow to more broad—taking into consideration other aspects of the targets’ identities besides their ethnicity. This deeper investigation could reveal a range of localized conflicts that often stem from socioeconomic or political issues. A more informed understanding of the true motivating issues [derived from moral and historical education] will allow for peacemaking efforts to be more fruitful.

This being said, the concept of a globalized education has much broader implications. An institution focused on a global education (universities world-wide are following this model) can be used to spread ideas of citizenship, moral education, and the value of humanity. The aforementioned moral education would assist in teaching the world’s youth that conflict between races, ethnicities, and genders are related to global dynamics. Through education, a global shift toward humanitarian thinking could vastly improve these spheres. The modern globalized universities should re-dictate themselves to democratic logic by becoming agents for spreading ideals of a cosmopolitan citizenship that can mediate between diverse traditions and communities.

The protection of ethno-cultural groups and cultural differences in South Sudan as well as in the surrounding nations is of the utmost importance if the international community is to uphold and promote justice between divergent groups—this is because equal rights are only realized when there is mutual respect for cultural differences.