Elite Recyclement or Generational Change: South Sudan’s Critical Juncture

Jan Pospisil

doi:10.1093/afraf/adaf021

Elite Recyclement or Generational Change: South Sudan’s Critical Juncture

Jan Pospisil

Research Centre for Peace and Security

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

37 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Ultimately, while the choice of political leadership will always remain a sovereign South Sudanese decision, international support should not be blind to the structures it reinforces. Breaking the cycle of elite recycling will require more than rhetorical support; it demands strategic investment in alternative pathways to power. Support for independent professional associations, young entrepreneurs, and technocratic leaders can help open the political space currently monopolized by money and patronage. Providing help to navigate the critical juncture ahead, rather than short-sightedly focusing on implementing a flawed peace agreement, should become a central priority.

Original language	English
Article number	adaf021
Pages (from-to)	205-218
Number of pages	14
Journal	African Affairs
Volume	124
Issue number	495
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/afraf/adaf021
Publication status	Published - 18 Aug 2025

Bibliographical note

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Funding

Funders	Funder number
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office	Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Keywords

South Sudan
peacemaking
peace agreements
transition
governance
post-conflict states

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Political Science and International Relations

Themes

Peace and Conflict
Governance, Leadership and Trust

Access to Document

10.1093/afraf/adaf021Licence: CC BY

adaf021Final published version, 339 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{35d91206e4ac46f6b6384f685d32f933,

title = "Elite Recyclement or Generational Change: South Sudan{\textquoteright}s Critical Juncture",

abstract = "Ultimately, while the choice of political leadership will always remain a sovereign South Sudanese decision, international support should not be blind to the structures it reinforces. Breaking the cycle of elite recycling will require more than rhetorical support; it demands strategic investment in alternative pathways to power. Support for independent professional associations, young entrepreneurs, and technocratic leaders can help open the political space currently monopolized by money and patronage. Providing help to navigate the critical juncture ahead, rather than short-sightedly focusing on implementing a flawed peace agreement, should become a central priority.",

keywords = "South Sudan, peacemaking, peace agreements, transition, governance, post-conflict states",

author = "Jan Pospisil",

note = "This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. ",

year = "2025",

month = aug,

day = "18",

doi = "10.1093/afraf/adaf021",

language = "English",

volume = "124",

pages = "205--218",

journal = "African Affairs",

issn = "0001-9909",

publisher = "Oxford University Press",

number = "495",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Elite Recyclement or Generational Change

T2 - South Sudan’s Critical Juncture

AU - Pospisil, Jan

N1 - This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

PY - 2025/8/18

Y1 - 2025/8/18

N2 - Ultimately, while the choice of political leadership will always remain a sovereign South Sudanese decision, international support should not be blind to the structures it reinforces. Breaking the cycle of elite recycling will require more than rhetorical support; it demands strategic investment in alternative pathways to power. Support for independent professional associations, young entrepreneurs, and technocratic leaders can help open the political space currently monopolized by money and patronage. Providing help to navigate the critical juncture ahead, rather than short-sightedly focusing on implementing a flawed peace agreement, should become a central priority.

AB - Ultimately, while the choice of political leadership will always remain a sovereign South Sudanese decision, international support should not be blind to the structures it reinforces. Breaking the cycle of elite recycling will require more than rhetorical support; it demands strategic investment in alternative pathways to power. Support for independent professional associations, young entrepreneurs, and technocratic leaders can help open the political space currently monopolized by money and patronage. Providing help to navigate the critical juncture ahead, rather than short-sightedly focusing on implementing a flawed peace agreement, should become a central priority.

KW - South Sudan

KW - peacemaking

KW - peace agreements

KW - transition

KW - governance

KW - post-conflict states

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105019799122

U2 - 10.1093/afraf/adaf021

DO - 10.1093/afraf/adaf021

M3 - Article

SN - 0001-9909

VL - 124

SP - 205

EP - 218

JO - African Affairs

JF - African Affairs

IS - 495

M1 - adaf021

ER -

Elite Recyclement or Generational Change: South Sudan’s Critical Juncture

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Themes

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

PeaceRep: Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform

Cite this

Elite Recyclement or Generational Change: South Sudan’s Critical Juncture

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Themes

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

PeaceRep: Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform

Cite this