Darfur: Struggle of Power and Resources, 1650-2002, An Institutional Perspective

Abstract

The conflicts in Sudan have been driven by multiple causes, a major one being increasing competition over natural resources. This is very much the case in Darfur, and Takana's book addresses both the hisotircal root causes of such competition as well as the current implications, including the dismantling of local administrrative structures, increasing fragmentation and very serious local and regional conflicts. Takana's analysis is based both on historical records and a large number if interviews. He is hilself a memeber of the Habbania tribal group, grew up in Darfur and has held a number of administrative and political positions which have provided him with deep and detailed knowledge of Darfur politics in all its aspects as well as the role and policies of different governments in Khartoum towards this large and important region.