Concluding Remarks: Regionalizing Oman Beyond Conventional Metageographies

Abstract

The conclusion sums up the multiplex regionalisation processes, of which Oman, its people and society are part. They point in different geographical directions and occur on multiple spatial scales. Besides larger world regions, intranational and transborder regionalisation takes place. Regional belonging, however, is not unidimensional; rather, actors and places are located in or between several regional contexts. Contributing to this is not only the central state as a unitary actor, but also a great variety of individual and collective social actors within and outside the state and the country. They are part of and act in a large range of political, economic, social and cultural fields and are of different geographical and social origin. In this context, other geographical perspectives emerge, e.g. on specific Omani “trade” or “migration regions” besides those in other social fields and from other local standpoints. Contributions to this volume also show the importance of discourses and symbols and of historical aspects. Finally, region-making can be regarded from different conceptual angles, from different observers’ and actors’ viewpoints and with quite different foci and underlying questions. To close, the author points to the need for further investigation on Oman and the Gulf area from a regional perspective.