Understanding State Formation: The Role of Political Parties in South Sudanese State-crafting and Failure

Abstract

State crafting, failure and, collapse is an interesting area of social science research, which has been remotely examined by comparative political scientists. The paper comprehensively examines the crafting and failure of South Sudanese state. It conceptualizes state, state-crafting, state failure and collapse. It surveys the role of political parties in understanding state-crafting and failure in South Sudan. Empirically, the paper argues that South Sudanese political parties particularly, Sudan People’ Liberation Movement (SPLM) have contributed in South Sudanese failure than crafting and prosperity. This is demonstrated through ethnicization of politics and politicization of ethnicity and through ethnic divisions. Using empirical literature, the paper discusses state crafting, failure and dissects the role of political parties in which SPLM has a big hand in the state failure of South Sudan. In its methodology, the paper deploys primary and secondary sources in tapping the understanding of the role of South Sudanese political parties in state-crafting and failure. Primary data include the use of questionnaires and interviews in comprehending state formation and in particular, the role played by South Sudanese political parties in nascent state-crafting and failure. Secondary sources include the use of literature review in understanding political parties and their role in South Sudanese state failure. The study uses a sample size of 200 respondents with sample types of persuasives and cluster sampling combined. The study also combines case study and process tracing methods to contextualize and validate causal chains and empirical casual processes of South Sudan state formation and role of political parties in state-crafting and failure. The results of the study indicate that SPLM as a main ruling party has a huge contribution in South Sudanese state failure. While other 28 registered political parties are ethnic-based given that because they don’t have national programmes across South Sudan, their contributed to South Sudanese state failure cannot be equated with SPLM. These 28 parties have their presence in the bomas, payams and counties only and have endeavored to promote ethnic divisions and violence in South Sudan. Finally, the paper draws conclusions on the need for civic role of political parties in state-crafting and democratization of South Sudan. The paper recommends future research on the role of SPLM party in reversing state failure and rescuing South Sudan from collapse.