Oman's Diverse Society: Northern Oman

Although the majority of Oman's population is Arab and either Ibadi or Sunni Muslim, the country exhibits a wealth of diversity in ethnic groups and native languages. While these other groups are often small in total size, they are represented in such areas as politics and commerce in numbers d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Middle East journal 2004, Vol.58 (1), p.32-51
Main Author: Peterson, J. E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arab people
Centuries
Children
Communities
Cultural identity
Cultural Pluralism
Ethnic Groups
Ethnic Identity
Ethnic Relations
Ethnicity
Expatriates
Family names
Gazetteers
Hindus
Identity
Language
Merchants
Middle East
Military personnel
Minority & ethnic groups
Minority Groups
Multiculturalism & pluralism
Muslims
Noncitizens
Oman
Politics
Population
Regional studies
Shia
Social structure
Society
Sunni
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Description
Summary:Although the majority of Oman's population is Arab and either Ibadi or Sunni Muslim, the country exhibits a wealth of diversity in ethnic groups and native languages. While these other groups are often small in total size, they are represented in such areas as politics and commerce in numbers disproportionate to the weight of their communities and, although distinctive, are more or less woven into the social fabric of the country. Ethnic identity seems likely to decline as the various communities increasingly mix in education, the workplace, residential areas, social functions, the military, and elsewhere. This article provides brief "snapshots" of these groups and assesses their changing status in Omani society.
ISSN:0026-3141
1940-3461
DOI:10.3751/58.1.12