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Research Article
The Role of the United Nations in South Sudanese State Building and Failure
Jacob Dut Chol Riak*
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 1, March 2025
Pages:
1-19
Received:
29 December 2024
Accepted:
13 January 2025
Published:
7 February 2025
Abstract: The study robustly examines the role of the United Nations in South Sudanese state-building and failure. In South Sudanese state building, the United Nations family of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have been viewed to have built South Sudanese state through support to peace building and mediations, support to the states programmes and national programmes such as Governors forums and reconstruction activities of South Sudanese state. However, UNDP and UNMISS have failed South Sudanese state through associated regime change agenda. UNDP capacity sucking out in-lieu of capacity building demonstrated the UN desire to fail South Sudanese state. UNMISS’s biased role during 2013 political conflicts is seen as state failure strategy. This was revealed in 2014 when the UN marked Container Truck carrying goods to Bentiu was impounded by the SPLA and later found to be carrying ammunition. UNMISS failure to protect civilians during 2013 and 2016 conflicts was viewed as an act of state failure of South Sudan. On methodology, the study used primary and secondary sources in understanding the role played by UN in South Sudanese state-building and failure. Primary data include the use of questionnaires and interviews in tapping the understanding of the role played by UNDP and UNMISS in state building and failure of South Sudan. Secondary sources include the use of empirical literature review in deeply understanding the UN’s hand in South Sudanese state-building and failure. The study used a sample size of 200 respondents with sample types of persuasive and cluster sampling combined. The study also combines process tracing and case study methods to contextualize and validate causal chains and empirical casual processes of the UN role in South Sudanese state-building and failure The results of the study indicate that the United Nations and particularly, the UNMISS negligently contributed to South Sudanese state failure than building through its strategy to stay neutral and above all, its failure to protect civilians in the 2013 and 2016 political conflicts. Finally, the study concludes on the need of South Sudanese Government to take its constitutional role in providing development services and protect its citizens in the eventuality of political violence and civil war in South Sudan. The study recommends future research on how the UN family (UNDP and UNMISS) and Government of South Sudan can improve their working relationships for sustainable state building and prosperity of South Sudanese citizens.
Abstract: The study robustly examines the role of the United Nations in South Sudanese state-building and failure. In South Sudanese state building, the United Nations family of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have been viewed to have built South Sudanese state through support to peace buildi...
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Research Article
Challenges and Obstacles in the Implementation of National Pride Projects in Nepal
Sudip Adhikari*
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 1, March 2025
Pages:
20-30
Received:
9 January 2025
Accepted:
26 January 2025
Published:
17 February 2025
Abstract: This study critically examines the challenges impeding the implementation of National Pride Projects (NPPs) in Nepal, analyzing them through political and administrative lenses. Despite their pivotal role in driving economic growth and advancing infrastructure development, these strategically significant projects are persistently hindered by systemic inefficiencies and governance issues. From a political perspective, frequent changes in government, an absence of political consensus, and the over-politicization of decision-making processes undermine project continuity, exacerbate policy instability, and disrupt long-term planning. These issues are compounded by administrative inefficiencies, including excessive bureaucratic red tape, a pronounced lack of technical expertise, resource mismanagement, and weak inter-agency coordination. Such deficiencies are further exacerbated by external challenges, including prolonged land acquisition disputes, delays in obtaining environmental clearances, and inadequate engagement with stakeholders, all of which contribute to significant delays and cost overruns. The interplay between political instability and administrative inefficiencies has not only jeopardized project timelines but also escalated costs and eroded public trust in the government’s capacity to deliver on large-scale initiatives. These challenges call attention to the fragmented nature of Nepal’s governance structure, emphasizing the urgent need for a holistic approach to reform. This paper argues for the necessity of comprehensive policy reforms aimed at depoliticizing decision-making processes, fostering political stability, and enhancing institutional capacity. Strengthened accountability mechanisms and more effective inter-agency coordination are imperative to streamline project implementation. Additionally, fostering stakeholder engagement, addressing procedural bottlenecks, and building technical expertise within implementing agencies are critical steps to ensure the timely and successful execution of NPPs. By addressing these multifaceted barriers, Nepal can harness the transformative potential of National Pride Projects to drive sustainable economic growth and infrastructure development. The findings of this study contribute to the broader discourse on public-sector project implementation in developing economies, providing actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners.
Abstract: This study critically examines the challenges impeding the implementation of National Pride Projects (NPPs) in Nepal, analyzing them through political and administrative lenses. Despite their pivotal role in driving economic growth and advancing infrastructure development, these strategically significant projects are persistently hindered by system...
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Research Article
The United Nations’ Functioning and Its Relevance to the Member States
Arakaza Dionise*
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 1, March 2025
Pages:
31-42
Received:
3 March 2025
Accepted:
13 March 2025
Published:
26 March 2025
Abstract: The United Nations (UN) is the leading inter-governmental organization that still holds great power over issues of global governance, diplomacy, and international cooperation. The UN was created in 1945 and its main goal is to maintain international peace and security, and promote human rights and Socio-economic development. Thereupon, through the decades, the UN has addressed challenges and has adapted to the emergence of new threats to international peace and security, such as climate change, terrorism, pandemics, and all phenomena related to sustainable development. Nevertheless, despite its advantages in delivering diplomacy and humanitarian aid, the UN has been constantly criticized for inefficiency, bureaucracy, and disproportionate power to global leadership in keeping with the Security Council permanent members interests. UN is in need of restructuring to straighten its goals with its activities since the world of 1945 was very different from the world in the 21st century. Many of the structures and processes of the UN reflect a bygone era change that have happened in the last 65 years. Nicola-Ann Hardwick explains that reform of the United Nations is a much-debated subject constantly on the UN agenda as a necessary waiting in order to strengthen the UN’s effectiveness as a multilateral organization, bring more transparency to the institution and enhance its credibility. He also mentions that the main focus is on the reform of the Security Council (SC), as this is the most powerful UN institution with the most potential for bringing change. The present study aims to provide a critical performance-based assessment of the UN’s organizational structure, governance processes, and efficiency in managing global crises. Furthermore, the UN’s benefits and drawbacks, its structural reform needs for boosting governance efficiency and relevance to world challenges in the 21st century, will be evaluated. With reference to recent literature and empirical materials, this article provides a comprehensive review of the UN’s important role in contemporary international relations, assessing its impact on member states and identifying potential measures for continued success and effectiveness.
Abstract: The United Nations (UN) is the leading inter-governmental organization that still holds great power over issues of global governance, diplomacy, and international cooperation. The UN was created in 1945 and its main goal is to maintain international peace and security, and promote human rights and Socio-economic development. Thereupon, through the ...
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Research Article
The Fluidity of Geopolitical Tension in the Horn of Africa
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 1, March 2025
Pages:
43-49
Received:
13 February 2025
Accepted:
27 February 2025
Published:
31 March 2025
Abstract: The Horn of Africa region is geopolitically distinct and indispensable because of its geostrategic position linking Asia with Europe through Red Sea, Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea. This has made the region attractive to what some geopolitical analysts have termed in their jargon: extra-continental powers since time immemorial. This article seeks to provide in-depth analyses on the geopolitical tension in the region covering the entire Greater Horn of Africa including Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan and South Sudan as things stand now. The complexity and fluidity of the prevailing geopolitical tensions, fragility of the states, void of preventive diplomacy, unresolved internal conflicts, simmering border disputes, contested sovereignties and extra-continental geopolitical competition in the Horn of Africa are succinctly unpacked to expose the looming disasters as things stand currently. Those peculiarities’, contrasts, comparisons and generalities on peace, security and simmering conflicts in African are made to highlight the current state of peace and security in the continent, the region and beyond. Scientifically, the Horn of Africa Region cannot be discussed in isolation as the fluidity of the current geopolitical tension is continental, trans -regional and global. Extra-continental factors are also analyzed because they are the biggest part of the geopolitical tension in the Horn of Africa. Each aggravating factors of this loud and perilous geopolitical tension is analyzed in depth and at length to expose the danger it poses to the population of 300 million people in the region. In those substantive subtopic Domestic issues such as civil wars and contested sovereignties are also covered., regional, continental and the extra-continental issues pertinent to the fluidity of the prevailing geopolitical tension in the Horn of Africa are also analyzed.
Abstract: The Horn of Africa region is geopolitically distinct and indispensable because of its geostrategic position linking Asia with Europe through Red Sea, Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea. This has made the region attractive to what some geopolitical analysts have termed in their jargon: extra-continental powers since time immemorial. This article s...
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