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Sudan is the world’s largest humanitarian and displacement crisis. As a result of the brutal conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces, over 14 million people have been displaced, up to 150,000 killed, and 25 million require humanitarian assistance. Once considered the potential breadbasket of the Middle East and Africa, the Sudanese people have persistently sought civilian rule and democracy since it emerged as an independent state in 1956. Popular uprisings overthrew military regimes in 1964, 1985, and, most recently, 2019, when a peaceful revolution toppled the 29-year dictatorship of Omar al Bashir and installed a civilian-led transitional government. With a focus on why the various periods of civilian or democratic rule not been sustained, the course will examine the causes of Sudan’s fragility, including the historical, economic, demographic, natural, and geopolitical factors that have contributed to conflict, and assess potential pathways for the Sudanese people to reach their elusive goal of civilian-led democratic rule. Students will prepare a combination of group presentations and individual papers. The class will be seminar-style, with the professor and guest speakers prompting student discussion.