Trends in Civil War Research on South Sudan (2013–2023): A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

This study examines the evolution of civil war research focused on South Sudan from 2013 to 2023, employing bibliometric analysis to evaluate 120 articles from the Scopus database. The findings reveal key trends, including the thematic transition from exploring the origins and impacts of conflict during the wartime period (2013–2017) to addressing post-conflict recovery and reform following the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) in 2018. Frequently discussed topics include ethnicity, kleptocracy, and weak state structures during wartime, and reconciliation, sustainable peacebuilding, and social recovery in the post-conflict period. The study identifies significant contributions from prolific authors, geographical patterns in research output, and under-researched areas such as human rights and peacekeeping. By highlighting bibliometric trends and key thematic clusters, the article offers actionable insights for policymakers, scholars, and international stakeholders invested in conflict resolution and peace studies.

Keywords

• south sudan; civil war; bibliometric analysis; peacebuilding; post-conflict recovery; nvivo 14; vosviewer; r-arcss agreement.