Posted By Joshua Keating
Friday, January 7, 2011 - 6:40 PM
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Andreas Markessinis has an intriguing post on the Nation Branding blog wondering just what the new country that will likely be created next week will be called:
One possible option is ‘New Sudan’, but some oppose the idea as that name would associate the new country with the actual Sudan, which is considered a pariah state. For a weak, new country with weak influence, getting the world population to distinguish between ‘Sudan’ and ‘New Sudan’ would take aeons. Many people still confuse South Korea with North Korea and don’t remember which one is the rogue state, so any combination of names including the word ‘Sudan’ will probably be counter-productive to the new country, nationals say.
In fact, another suggestion most Southern Sudaneses don’t like either is ‘Southern Sudan’. They discard it because the name raises fears that this name would also confuse people, as many people would think that ‘Southern Sudan’ is the Southern region within Sudan, and not a different country.
But while there are ones who oppose the ‘Sudan’ word, there are others who don’t want to lose it. The latter consider their region to be the real ‘Sudan’, while the Northern part, which has become arabized and islamized, is not. They unpolish semantics to substantiate it. ‘Sudan’, they say, etymologically means in Arabic ‘land of the black people’, which is how fairer-skinned Arabs called the lands of conquered black tribes under their power. So this would justify that the name ‘Sudan’ makes more sense in the blacks-populated South than in the Arab-occupied North.
Other possibilites up for consideration include plays on the Nile river, the area's main geographic feature, such as Nilotia, Nolotland, or the Nile Republic. Cushitia or Azania -- archaic geographic and ethnic names -- are other possibilities, though also fraught with uncomfortable overtones.
I have a feeling that intertia may dictate that "South Sudan" stays, given that it's already how the international media is referring to the place. But despite its past significance, I'd have to think that at this point dropping "Sudan" -- with its contemporary connotations of genocide and famine -- from the name would be a wise branding move. I doubt anyone in Bangladesh wishes today that the country had stuck with "East Pakistan" after independence. Most of all, Southern Sudan should be sure to avoid the nomenclatural abomination that is the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Nile Republic isn't bad, though as Markessinis notes, Egypt is pretty protective of the Nile brand, raising the possibility of a FYROM situation. Maybe the country could go the Altria route and just make up a name? Not the worst idea for a place badly in need of a fresh start.
Any suggestions?
Nile Republic or a Historical Name
As you stated, every potential candidate for a name is wrought with political overtones, but I think those referring merely to historical or geographical locations are the best bet, and the closest to being neutral.
How about Republic of Juba, would that be problematic?
I've personally found little discussion of this among expatriates. The attitude seemed to be one of 'get independence first and then worry about the rest'.
hmm :-? finally news that don't involve alcoholic people murdering their families
The swamplands of the central White Nile are known as the Sudd, I think. They blocked European exploration of the White Nile's source for a long time.
Southern Suden should take the historical route and called their new nation "Nubia." That name won't necessarily rustle any feathers of neighboring countries, precluding any other historical concerns such as the one between Greece and Macedonia in the 90s, and the name is historically-specific. (It also has a nice ring to it, I might add!)
For those who would like to keep the 'Sudan' link in the name of the newest country I suggest REPUBLIC OF FREE SUDAN. Contrary to emotionally blank adjectives like the North, South, new or old options, Free Sudan will be easily associated with the democratic process which 'freed' the country.
I wish them the best, but they will be a democracy when they are a proven democracy. Putting words like "free" and "democratic" in the name of the state or party is a technique of dictators.
For a country whose main languages are English and Juba Arabic, why not Jubaland? As far as I know, Juba's not particularly unrepresentative of the rest of the region, and it has a friendly, peaceful-sounding ring to it - not bad branding for a country looking to move on from associations with chaotic conflict.
Altenatively, half of Southern Sudan already has the name Equatoria, so why not just broaden that to the whole country?
p.s. re the "Republic of Free Sudan" idea - nice but it doesn't go far enough with being more "associated with the democratic process that freed the country".
How about "People's Democratic Former Sudanese Central African Republic of Free Sudan"? ;-)
UNR, Upper Nile Republic. It keeps the Nile in the title, but the "Upper" part keeps them from raining on Egypt's parade.
And if the United Nations had to provide relief, the effort could be called UNRUNR (pronounced un-runner). In keeping with the repetition, they could get former UN Sec Gen Boutros Boutros-Ghali to head the effort.
I agree that having Sudan in the name would result in confusion, a PR complication that this new nation cannot afford. I thought of Nubia, but that name is more associated with northern Sudan and southern Egypt. Personally, I like something like "White Nile Republic" or a name which incorporates Juba.
How about opening it up to sponsors ?
Monsanto Republic, anyone ? Or Nike Town, East Africa ?
That way, the name issue solves itself, and the South Sudanese can get an immediate cash infusion.
Just kidding - although the rumor about Bashir offering to pick up debt on the South's behalf might mitigate the naming process somewhat...
To distinguish it from it's neighbor to the West... hahahaha
"Nubia" has a lot of history behind it
So how about "The Nubian Republic"? -- since we all hope some form of representative govt will be one of the defining characteristics of the world's newest country.
Nubia is in Northern Sudan, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nubia), Juba and Equatoria exclude the majority Dinka and Nuer tribes, and Upper Nile is the name of a State within Southern Sudan which is predominantly Nuer and excludes the Equatorians.
I'm stuck.
NADUS clearly communicates that the former country of Sudan has been turned upside down, and that the people of the new country are excercising their independence and reclaiming what is theirs.
Unless this name is copyrighted by the film company - Nadus Films
http://www.nadusfilms.com/
Nadus Films produced a film with the objective to brings both awareness and action in helping the war-torn nation of Sudan rebuild. The film educates its viewers on the history of the civil war that was fought between the heavily Islamic north and largely Christian south. More importantly, the viewers of the documentary are shown the very real prospect of sustainability in Southern Sudan and given an action plan!
I sincerely wish for the people of this war torn region to obtain a lasting peace, awakening hope and the dawn of a new era of prosperity....
Western Imperial Clash Is Waking UP the World
How about Pathetic American Global Imperial Product, patend pending?
How does one of the poorest regions of Africa maintain rebellion for nearly 40 years except with foreign military support?
John Garang, Grinnell alum, Ft Benning grad, takes his place in a long line of American operatives who have led a people into some form of revolt, rebellion etc. Secession would be the culmination of his operation.
And the hypocricy of the West is rank yet again.
Peaceful secession by Chechnya was denied by Russia at the time of the Russian Federation formation eventhough it was granted to tiny nationettes like Moldova, and yet the West turned a blind eye.
Mindinao, part of the Sultan of Brunei for centuries and more akin to Malay and Indonesia, was denied secession because the West forced it to be subjugated by Christian dominated Phillipines. The West approved that subjugation.
Kashmir will likely always remain a part of India and a referendum will be denied as long as the West control the World Order.
The Clash of Civlizations continues. But the Muslim world is waking up from its coma. And they will not forget the injustices and evil perpetrated on the world by Western imperial ambitions.
Moldova is more than three times as populous than Chechnya, and was one of the constituent republics of the Soviet Union. Russia is not part of the west anyway.
Kashmir was a well-meaning blunder (respecting the rights of native Indian princes, hoping they would behave wisely - and almost all of them did) in which the West has no remaining stake. India is far too big and powerful to be pushed around any more.
I'm afraid that ethnic and state boundary issues are immensely complicated, with no perfect solutions. If you were running everything, you wouldn't be able to please everyone either, and you would also be denounced by the disappointed as a hypocrite.
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