Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 11/2014

Building a Social Contract in South Sudan

Rama Anthony

October 2014

Oxfam Publishing

Abstract

In South Sudan, WWS is working to strengthen civil society and to facilitate its engagement with those in positions of authority at all levels of governance, using the model of the social contract. The social contract model promotes constructive engagement between citizens and state; encourages both parties to respect each other’s rights and fulfil their responsibilities; and promotes mutual accountability. The social contract model is particularly appropriate in a fragile context, where government may be nervous about the role of civil society and where there is little tradition of political engagement or experience of effective governance.