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Volume 11 Number 1 January 2025

Understanding State Dysfunctionality: The Role of Political Elites in South Sudanese State-crafting and Failure


Authors: Jacob Dut Chol Riak
Pages: 23-35
DOI: doi.org/10.32861/jssr.111.23.35
Abstract
State crafting, dysfunctionality and failure is an interesting and an emerging area in political studies as well as international affairs. This area has been remotely examined by both African and Western scholars. The paper comprehensively examined state dysfunctionality in the context of state failure of South Sudan. The paper conceptualized state dysfunctionality as inability of the state to perform its functions of service delivery of public goods and particularly, security to its own citizens. While the paper surveyed the role of political elites in understanding state-crafting and failure of South Sudan, empirically, its argues that South Sudanese political elites, particularly, from Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM) and Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) known today as South Sudanese People Defense Forces (SSPDF) have contributed to South Sudanese state failure than crafting. This is demonstrated through elites struggle over power, secretive ethnic politics and rewarding rebellions, corruption and resources usurp and protracted conflicts. The paper deployed primary and secondary sources in tapping the understanding of South Sudanese political elites in state-crafting and failure. It combines case study and process tracing methods to contextualize and validate causal chains and empirical casual processes. The study used a sample size of 200 respondents with persuasive and cluster sampling in understanding state dysfunctionality, the role political elites in South Sudanese state-crafting  and failure.  The findings indicated that political elites from Government of South Sudan and particularly, the party with majority seats in the government, SPLM and military wing, SPLA aka SSPDF have led to South Sudanese state failure. The tribal outfits such as the Jieng Council of Elders (JCE) have had a big hand in South Sudanese state failure. Finally, the paper draws conclusions that reversing South Sudanese state failure requires the political elites, the SPLM to eschew zero-sum power struggle, rent seeking rebellions, secretive ethnic politics, conflicts and corruption. This demands adherence to institutionalism and visionary leadership. The paper recommends further research to SPLM and SPLA elites to reverse state failure and rescue South Sudan from collapse.

Regional Life Expectancy in Russia 1996-2019 – A Preston Curve and Convergence Clubs


Authors: Gregory Brock
Pages: 15-22
DOI: doi.org/10.32861/jssr.111.15.22
Abstract
Russian regional life expectancy at birth is shown to improve 1996-2019 using the average life expectancy as well as by gender with the extremely high gender gap decreasing.   Life expectancy at the traditional retirement age also increases using a broad measure of economic development (Human Development Index) but not with a narrow measure (per capita real GRP).  Regional female life expectancy except for a few outlier regions such as Moscow city converges over time while regional male life expectancy forms two convergence clubs with one converging at a much higher speed than the other indicating that the extremely low male life expectancy in Russia is more heterogeneous than female life expectancy.

Road Safety of Highway Traffic System of Halsema Highway


Authors: June S. Biangdan
Pages: 8-14
DOI: doi.org/10.32861/jssr.111.8.14
Abstract
Traffic accidents happen all the time. It’s a situation that can happen in any transportation network, including the one in the study area, where safety steps aren’t good enough. The study then looked at how safe the roads are on the Halsema Highway in the Philippines. In particular, it found out what the main reasons are for traffic accidents along Halsema Highway and how well safety standards are being followed. The goal is to come up with ways to lessen the bad effects of land transportation traffic accidents. A questionnaire checklist was the main tool used to collect data, with human interviews and observation also being used. T-tests and both quantitative and qualitative study methods were used to look at the data that was collected.  The results show that mistakes made by people are the main reason why cars crash on the Halsema Highway. There is a high level of compliance with road safety standards (2.63) and traffic engineering (2.56), but only a modest level of compliance with traffic signs (2.46).  Right now, it’s clear that some Halsema Highway drivers don’t care about safety. On the other hand, there are some issues and concerns that need to be addressed when it comes to road safety standards, especially when it comes to traffic signs that aren’t big enough.

Maritime University Employees’ Level of Resilience Quotient: Basis for Development of an Enhancement Program


Authors: Cristy H. Cangrejo ; Brian Gil S. Sarinas
Pages: 1-7
DOI: doi.org/10.32861/jssr.111.1.7
Abstract
This study was conceptualized because COVID-19 pandemic brought ......