Author
Listed:
- Atem Madut Yaak Kur
(School of Business and Management, University of Juba, South Sudan)
- Kadian Wanyonyi Wanyama
(School of Business and Management, University of Juba, South Sudan)
- Ring Longar Gum Majok
(School of Business and Management, University of Juba, South Sudan)
Abstract
This study explores the impact of social networks and community engagement on national building in South Sudan, a nation characterized by significant youth demographics and socio-economic challenges. The research is justified by the urgent need to understand how empowering the youth through digital engagement can support the nation’s development objectives, particularly in the context of prolonged conflict and instability. Guided by Social Learning Theory, Civic Engagement Theory, and Network Theory, the study employs a mixed-methods methodology encompassing descriptive and explanatory designs. Data was collected through surveys and interviews with 140 respondents, primarily youth and government officials, from the National Ministry of Youths and Sports. The findings revealed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.76) between social networks, community engagement, and national building, indicating that increased online and offline civic participation bolsters national identity and development initiatives. Key results show that 70% of participants reported social networks enhance their engagement in community activities, contributing to a collective sense of belonging and shared responsibility. The qualitative data underscores that while social networks can catalyze positive initiatives, issues related to misinformation and digital divide pose challenges to effective engagement. The conclusions emphasize that fostering digital literacy and encouraging civic participation through social media can be instrumental for national progress. Recommendations for policymakers include developing programs to enhance digital skills among youth, promoting partnerships between civic organizations and social media platforms, and establishing monitoring systems for community engagement practices. The study advocates for the Ministry of Youths and Sports to leverage social networks for effective communication and mobilization, thereby reinforcing their role in national building. Future research is encouraged to examine the long-term sustainability of online engagement and its effects on community resilience and national identity over time.
Suggested Citation
Atem Madut Yaak Kur & Kadian Wanyonyi Wanyama & Ring Longar Gum Majok, 2025.
"Exploring the Impact of Social Networks and Community Engagement on the National Building in South Sudan,"
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(5), pages 2011-2026, May.
Handle:
RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:issue-5:p:2011-2026
Download full text from publisher
Corrections
All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:issue-5:p:2011-2026. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.
If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.
We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .
If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.
For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Dr. Pawan Verma (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/ .
Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through
the various RePEc services.