Abstract

This paper examines the adaptive strategies adopted by political parties in response to political dominance in post-conflict South Sudan. The study is guided by the pragmatic philosophical paradigm and employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating both quantitative and qualitative data to explore the adaptive strategies of political parties in the post-conflict context of South Sudan. The target population comprised 384 respondents. Of these, a sample of 257 respondents (67.0%) completed questionnaires, while an additional 100 respondents (19.0%) participated in focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs). The findings on the adaptive strategies adopted by political parties in response to political dominance yielded an overall mean score of 3.04, suggesting respondents’ uncertainty regarding the effectiveness and inclusiveness of these strategies. The study concludes that political parties in South Sudan operate as partially adaptive yet institutionally weak actors. While some parties continue to maintain loyalty to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) due to its historical role in the liberation struggle, the majority recognizes that entrenched political dominance constrains democratic processes, political inclusiveness, and equitable development. Addressing these institutional and political gaps would enable political parties in South Sudan to move beyond adaptive survival strategies and become credible instruments for democratic consolidation, peacebuilding, and inclusive governance.

Keywords: political dominance, political parties, adoptive strategies.

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