The Challenge of Governance in South Sudan: Corruption, Peacebuilding, and Foreign Intervention(Routledge Studies in African Development)

South Sudan is one of the world’s most divided and unstable countries. Since achieving statehood in 2011, the country has plunged into civil war (2013-15) and become the scene of some of the worst human rights abuses on the African continent. Despite ongoing political turmoil, states and international institutions have pledged enormous resources to stabilize the country and shore up the current peace process, but have had limited influence in dealing with the effects of rampant corruption and factionalism. The Challenge of Governance in South Sudan examines the factors that continue to haunt peace-building efforts, including the domination of the SPLM/A, factionalization, corruption, human rights atrocities, an ineffective constitution, and the role of international actors. It brings together a diverse set of leading scholars to reflect on these factors and propose ways of promoting peace and stability in South Sudan. In particular, the book asks whether the disparity between domestic priorities/policies and foreign intervention strategies has prevented the peace process from moving forward. The contributors probe this issue by addressing the flaws of past peace agreements, poor governance, a weakly articulated peacekeeping mission, US foreign policy, and a lack of moral accountability. This book is perfect for students, scholars and policy makers with an interest in the challenges faced by the world’s newest country.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction: The Challenges of Governance and Peacebuilding in South Sudan Part 1: Factionalism and the National Cycle of Violence 2. Conflict Governance: The SPLA, Factionalism, and Peacemaking Matthew Leriche 3. Corruption as Resistance: bureaucratic obstruction, ethno-spatial politics, and capital city planning in South Sudan Naseem Badiey 4. Failed Leadership: Corruption, Kleptocracy, and Democratic Exclusion Kuir E. Garang Part 2: Foreign Influences and Peacemaking 5. The Role of UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in Protecting Civilians Christopher Zambakari, Robert A. Sanders and Tarnjeet Kang 6. Whither or Whether US Foreign Policy in South Sudan? Steven C. Roach 7. South Sudan’s Hybrid Court: The Challenge of Redressing Victims of International Crimes Mohamed Babiker 8. Conclusion: The Permanent Constitution and the Elusive Peace Process Steven C. Roach and Derrick K. Hudson

About the Author :
Steven C. Roach is Professor of International Relations at the University of South Florida-Tampa, USA Derrick K. Hudson is Associate Teaching Professor of International Relations at Colorado School of Mines, USA

Review :
"The Challenge of Governance in South Sudan engages one of the more difficult examples of new governance and is ceaselessly interesting, and useful well beyond the specific case in how it speaks to the costs of corruption in palpable, shocking ways…[It] has much to say about what has happened, and the problems of governance and corruption that must be addressed moving forward." – Christopher L. Atkinson, International Journal of Public Administration