South Sudan's Civil War: Violence, Insurgency and Failed Peacemaking

by John Young

Overview

A mere two years after achieving independence, South Sudan in 2013 descended into violent civil war, refuting US government claims that the country's succession was a major foreign policy success and would end endemic conflict. Worse was to follow when the international community declared famine in 2017. In the first book-length study of the South Sudan civil war, John Young draws on his close but critical relationship with the rebel SPLM-IO leadership to reveal the true dynamics of the conflict, and exposes how the South Sudanese state was in crisis long before the outbreak of war.

With insider knowledge of the histories and motivations of the rebellion's chief protagonists, Young argues considerable responsibility for the present state of South Sudan must be laid at the door of the US-led peace process. Linking the role of the international community with the country's opposition politics, South Sudan's Civil War is an essential guide to the causes and consequences of the violence that has engulfed one of Africa's most troubled nations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781786993779
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	01/15/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	264
File size:	974 KB

About the Author

John Young has worked as a private consultant on the Horn of Africa since 1986. In this capacity he served as a political adviser to the Carter Center during South Sudan's independence referendum, and as a consultant for USAID during the subsequent civil war. His previous books include Peasant Revolution in Ethiopia (2008) and The Fate of Sudan: Origins and Consequences of a Flawed Peace Process (Zed 2012).
John Young has been involved in research around peace, security, governance, federalism conflict, elections, and political parties in the Horn of Africa since 1986, but in recent years has had a particular interest in peace and security issues in Sudan. These research interests have been pursued in various capacities as an independent and UN journalist, academic researcher, Canadian government consultant, peace monitor in the north-south Sudan conflict, evaluator of various peace support programs, and, most recently, political adviser to the Carter Center for the April 2010 national elections and southern Sudan referendum.

Table of Contents

Map
Preface
1. The Deep Roots and Twisted Path to Civil War
2. The Misadventures of an American Midwife
3. The Descent into Civil War
4. The Establishment of the SPLM-IO
5. Laying the Groundwork for Future Failures
6. The Collapse of the Peace Agreement
7. Coming Out of the Shadows
8. Conclusion: Collapse of an Illusion

Postscript

Editorial Reviews

The most definitive account yet of America's debacle in South Sudan and the South Sudanese civil war. Young prophetically warned of South Sudan's fate in his last book. This time, everyone should listen. No outsider has a closer or more clear-eyed view of South Sudan's rebel movement.” —Alan Boswell, jourbanalist

“Combining insights from recent history with rigorous research, Young's timely study shows how outside attempts to create peace wrought endless havoc for the people of South Sudan. A must read for all those looking to put things right.” —Atta El-Battahani, University of Khartoum

“Young tells a sad story about Sudan and South Sudan, about human nature and American meddling, based on countless conversations with the key actors. It might disillusion many readers, but it rings true.” —Günther Schlee, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology

“John Young describes the appalling events in South Sudan since 2013 with clarity and insight. He has a written a book that anyone wanting to know about South Sudan now will need to read.” —Tim Allen, London School of Economics

From the Publisher

“Young tells a sad story about Sudan and South Sudan, about human nature and American meddling, based on countless conversations with the key actors. It might disillusion many readers, but it also rings true.

Günther Schlee

“An academic with close connections to some of the group’s leaders, Young . . . argues that unlike similar movements in neighbouring Uganda, Ethiopia and Eritrea, which took power a generation earlier, the SPLM never showed any interest, let alone competence, in administering its liberated territories.

Economist

“Combining insights from recent history with rigorous research, Young’s timely study shows how outside attempts to create peace wrought endless havoc for the people of South Sudan. A must read for all those looking to put things right.

Atta El-Battahani

“Young describes the appalling events in South Sudan since 2013 with clarity and insight. He has a written a book that anyone wanting to know about South Sudan now will need to read.

Tim Allen

“The most definitive account yet of America’s debacle in South Sudan and the South Sudanese civil war. Young prophetically warned of South Sudan’s fate in his last book. This time, everyone should listen. No outsider has a closer or more clear-eyed view of South Sudan’s rebel movement.

Alan Boswell

“An academic with close connections to some of the group’s leaders, Young . . . argues that unlike similar movements in neighbouring Uganda, Ethiopia and Eritrea, which took power a generation earlier, the SPLM never showed any interest, let alone competence, in administering its liberated territories.

Economist