Ethnic, Linguistic, and Religious Pluralism in Oman: The Link with Political Stability

Abstract

This study examines pluralism and its impact on the political and religious balance in Omani Society, whether religious, linguistic, ethnic, and confessional pluralism or geographical and cultural pluralism. It frames the issue within its geographical and historical contexts and provides an anthropological account of structural patterns in a Gulf state which has rarely been studied. The research will observe three types of discourse, each of which attempts to redefine the components of Omani society and culture. The religious discourse and its significant effect on religious tolerance is the most dynamic discourse. In this context, the convergence of sectarian religious discourse in Oman will be discussed along with the extent to which the Omani Sultanate is influenced by the widespread sectarianism in the Greater Middle East today. The cultural discourse will also be discussed in its contemporary modern form, despite being structurally, sociologically, and politically incomplete. Finally, the paper also explores political discourse and its consolidation of pluralism as a concept in Omani society.