Applying Intergroup Contact Theory to a National Sporting Event in South Sudan

This paper attempts to use Allport’s (1954) intergroup contact theory (ICT) as a framework for analysing sport for development and peace (SDP) programming aimed at achieving the goals of social change in South Sudan, where ethnic tensions are increasing. The results showed that in an environment of increasing inter-ethnic tensions, the national sport event designed programmes with optimal conditions for the development of contact effects that can change perceptions of other ethnic groups through contact and reduce inter-ethnic prejudice. And this perception was found to be entrenched even more than a year later. This suggests that ICT is a useful conceptual framework for designing, delivering and evaluating SDP programmes in conflict-affected countries. In addition to the four optimal conditions for the contact effect of Allport, the paper proposes an additional important condition for conflict-affected countries: a space for peaceful coexistence.