Sudan War Series – Article 03
An Economy of Pain: How Sudanese Are Building a House Away from Home
The Sudan War series is a joint collaboration between the Center for Economic, Legal, and Social Studies and Documentation – Khartoum (CEDEJ-K), Sudan-Norway Academic Cooperation (SNAC)andAfrican Arguments – Debating Ideas. Through a number of themes that explore the intersections of war, displacement, identities and capital, Sudanese researchers, many of whom are themselves displaced, highlight their own experiences, the unique dynamisms within the larger communities affected by war, and readings of their possible futures.
Article 03 by Amar Jamal
Pain is often framed within the discourse of power. States, institutions, and dominant structures impose suffering as a tool of control. However, a more nuanced understanding of pain must centre human agency in its reflection, particularly the accounts of the life experiences of displaced people. Refugees and forcibly displaced people experience pain not just as victims of systemic oppression but as agents navigating their suffering. This does not imply a theological or Freudian embrace of pain but rather a utilitarian reckoning – where valued action is measured by its ability to reduce suffering.
Within this framework, agency and the alleviation of pain are deeply intertwined. Freedom and well-being are closely tied to the ability to act in ways that reduce suffering. However, for displaced individuals, this agency is severely constrained. The central challenge is how to create a sense of home in exile? How can identity and belonging be reconstructed in an unfamiliar environment where social and economic structures are often exclusionary?
Read the full article here by Amar Jamal.
OpenEdition vous propose de citer ce billet de la manière suivante :
cedejsudan (14 juin 2025). Sudan War Series – Article 03. Researching Sudan - A perspective on contemporary Sudan. Consulté le 16 juillet 2025 à l’adresse https://doi.org/10.58079/144o8