Useful to both scholars and policymakers, Beyond Khartoum is a history of subnational government in Sudan from early times through to 2010. With more than 2.5 million Sudanese killed in conflicts over the past half century, such an enquiry has become increasingly relevant and urgent. Given Sudan's pivotal position in regional conflicts, its cultural diversity, its past instability and more recent oil wealth, an understanding of subnational politics is essential to fully appreciate the dynamics behind the news emanating from Khartoum, Darfur, Southern Sudan and beyond.