The Discourse of "Omani Identity" in the Politics of Modern Oman

The modernization of Oman, initiated by Sultan Qaboos, and the historically conditioned cultural diversity of Omani society have been factors that have prompted the state to launch a public policy aimed at strengthening the socio-political system. In this regard, the country's development strategy "Oman Vision 2040" was published in 2020, which pays special attention to identity issues. This makes the study of identity politics and discourses in Oman relevant, as they are instruments of this policy. The purpose of this study is to examine how the representation of "Omani identity" in the media of modern Oman aligns with the objectives of identity policy articulated by the government of the Sultanate. The first chapter of the work focuses on the specifics of identity politics and the concepts of "identity" and "identity discourses. "The second chapter identifies the goals of the government and other groups of actors (businesses, public organizations, and media) in Oman in the context of identity politics. The third and fourth chapters analyze media content and identify the features of identity discourse promoted by these actors. The analysis allows us to conclude that the government's identity policy program is being implemented in accordance with the goals outlined in Oman Vision 2040. All actors involved in identity policy in Oman, including the government, private sector, and public organizations, are working together to promote the discourse of Omani identity. Keywords: Oman, Identity, Identity Discourse, Identity Politics, Oman Vision 2040, Mass Media