This study focused on presenting an analysis of the concept of marginalisation of former fighters after the Liberian civil conflict and how the web of connections such as status, identity and networks were central to any proposed establishment of a debate. The study had two aims. The first aim was to give a voice to the ex-soldiers who became neglected after the war, allowing them to tell their own stories of marginalisation before, during and after the conflict. The second aim was to help establish a debate on the notion of marginalisation that existed before the war and impacted the soldiers after the war. Within this, the study aimed to assess how the evolution of identity of individuals from youth to neglected veterans had occurred and to further the knowledge of the empirical literature in this regard. A secondary aim was to evaluate the success of reintegration of the ex-soldiers into Liberian society post-conflict and how far marginalisation hindered this attempt. To achieve these aims, the study focused on the use of a qualitative research methodology as the central research component. As well as considering the view of the empirical literature, the researcher wished to provide an account of marginalisation from those that had experienced it first-hand. Therefore, the study dispensed with the use of quantitative surveys and instead carried out personal conversations face to face that would reveal the former fighters’ feelings and attitudes in a more rounded and richer way. This methodological approach aimed to give a voice to the ex-soldiers and whether or not they perceive themselves as part of society. Using these interviews, the thesis aimed to analyse the influence of internal and external factors that caused the former fighters to perceive themselves as being either included, excluded or marginalised within Liberian society. The interviews, combined with the results of the review of the empirical literature, enabled the researcher to draw a number of salient points regarding the concept of marginalisation. The study found that the creation of the feeling of marginalisation for former fighters was composed of a variety of psycho-social factors. These included detachment from family, marginalised primary identities, the development of war-connected networks and a resilient sense of belonging, all of which combined to create a distinct group identity of the neglected veteran that currently exists in Liberian society. This has been because the former fighters have been unable to homogenise their status and identity with the rest of the population. This has stemmed from their perception of the failure of the reintegration process to eliminate the gap between former fighters and civilians and has led to serious problems within Liberian society. The study concludes that Liberian youth developed a war-family identity (collective group identity) and gained a strong sense of belonging. The actions of DDR led to this disintegration of the war family and triggered a series of reactions psychologically and socially. Moreover, reintegration attempts have proved unsuccessful due to the lack of education and skills held by the former fighters. Attempts to be accepted into society has not led to real integration. This has increased the perception of former fighters that they are now neglected veterans. Recommendations for further study are also provided in this work.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Cornell University, 1982. / Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (p. 310-342).

158 pages / This is a study of labor migration and the changing village agricultural production of the Mano society of West Africa brought about by the participation in the developing western economy of the Republic of Liberia. These forces have been accelerating since 1926 due to the coming of the American owned Firestone rubber plantation, the largest such development in the world.

Thesis advisor: Paul Cichello / Liberia had two devastating civil wars 1989-2003. I am examining who benefitted from the large amounts of international aid and development programs that poured into the country during the post-war rebuilding period, in terms of school enrollment rates. With USAID’s Demographic and Health Surveys and Uppsala Conflict Data Program’s Georeferenced Event Dataset, I use probit and linear probability models to examine the determinants of being enrolled in school in 2007 and 2019. I find that females and kids living in rural areas had disproportionate recovery in the post-war period controlling for other explanatory variables. Household wealth was an important factor in determining enrollment. I also examine the concept of bounce-back, or rapid recovery in post-conflict contexts. I find that on a national level, there was significant recovery in enrollment rates, with about 51% of kids being enrolled in school in 2007 and about 81% being enrolled in 2019. I was unable to determine definitively whether or not this recovery was proportional to the amount of loss experienced due to the wars due to large standard deviations. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2023. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Departmental Honors. / Discipline: Economics.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The primary purpose of the research study is to establish whether the supervisory regime of the Central Bank of Liberia (hereinafter referred to as CBL) is adequate to provide effective and efficient bank supervision that will ensure stability in the financial system. Stability in the financial sector and safety and soundness of the banking industry are of paramount importance due to its linkages with all other sectors of the economy. Adequate supervision and prudential regulations are central in ensuring financial sector stability. This research focuses on the prudential regulations and other supervisory directives used in the supervision of licensed bank-financial institutions, in terms of capital adequacy, asset quality, management, earnings, liquidity and sensitivity to market risk, the supervisory approach and the legal framework. The adequacy of the prudential regulations and other supervisory directives are determined by comparing with international standards. The results revealed that the prudential regulations largely meet international standards. Thus, the supervisory regime is adequate and capable of providing stability in the banking industry. Banks are exposed to various kinds of risks in the conduct of their trading operations; therefore, management is required to maintain a capital position that will cover the nature and extent of risks to the bank:. The capital consists of two tiers; Tier I (primary) capital and Tier 2 (secondary) capital. Banks are required to permanently maintain a capital adequacy ratio that matches their total exposure to risk at the level of at least 8%. The prudential regulations of the Central Bank of Liberia places assets into two risk baskets while international organizations like the Bank for International Settlement has four or five risk baskets based on the category of borrower, sovereigns, banks or corporates. Earning assets reflect the bank's quality and existing potential of exposure to counter-party associated with loan and investment portfolios, as well as off-balance sheet transactions. Banks are required to make adequate provisioning against deteriorating loan portfolios and general provisions for performing loans. Sound and competent management is the most significant requirement for the strength, potency and growth of any financial institution. Indicators of the quality of management's competence are primarily specific to individual institutions. Moreover, it is not easy to draw any conclusion vis-à-vis management soundness on the basis of monetary indicators, as characteristics of a good management are rather qualitative in nature. Strong earnings and profitability profiles of a financial institution reflect its capacity to absorb losses, fund expansion, be competitive in the banking industry, replenish and/or increase capital base and pay dividends to shareholders. Good earnings quality is relied upon by banking institutions as their first line of defense against capital reduction due to credit losses, interest rate risk, operational risk and decline in asset value. Liquidity is often considered as an attestation of solvency for banking institutions. Banks must maintain a minimum level of liquidity to settle obligations such withdrawals and for giving out loans. Liquidity is a strong early warning signal, the shortage and/or the lack of which erodes public confidence in a bank. Banks must guide against structural maturity mismatch. Imprudent lending practice increases a bank's exposure to liquidity risk. All licensed banks are statutorily required to maintain a minimum daily liquidity ratio of 15%, which is a measure of the banks' liquid assets vis-à-vis deposits. Each commercial bank is required to maintain reserve requirements representing 18% of average deposits. A suitable legal framework is a prerequisite for effective banking supervision. Supervisors can be expected to act, free from political pressures, only if they cannot be dismissed for doing their job. The New Financial Institutions Act 1999 and the Central Bank Act 1999 give the Central Bank powers to grant and revoke bank. licenses, supervise commercial banks and have unlimited access to privileged information. There is a need to further strengthen the supervisory capacity in terms of providing continuous short-term training and long-term or post-graduate studies. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoofdoel van hierdie navorsingsverslag is om te bepaal of die toesighoudende stelsel van die Sentrale Bank van Liberie (hierna verwys na CBL) toereikend is om doeltreffende en doelmatige banksupervisie te verskaf wat stabiliteit in die finansiële stelsel sal verseker. Stabiliteit in die finansieie sektor, en die veiligheid en betroubaarheid van die bankbedryf is uiters belangrik as gevolg van die verwantskap met alle ander sektore van die ekonomie. Voldoende supervisie en verstandige regulasies vorm die kern van stabiliteit in die finansiële sektor. Hierdie navorsing is gerig op die verstandige regulasies en ander toesighoudende bepalings wat gebruik word in die supervisie van gelisensieerde bank-finansiële instellings ten opsige van kapitaaltoereikendheid, bategehalte, bestuur, verdienste, likiditeit en sensitiwiteit ten opsigte van markrisiko, die benadering tot toesighouding en die regsraamwerk. Die toereikendheid van die verstandige regulasies en ander toesighoudende bepalings word bepaal deur dit met internasionale standaarde te vergelyk. Die resultale toon aan dat die verstandige regulasies grootliks aan internasionale standaarde voldoen. Die toesigboudende stelsel is dus toereikend en daartoe in staat om stabiliteit aan die bankbedryf te verskaf. Banke word blootgestel aan verskeie soorte risiko in die uitvoer van hul handelsbedrywighede. Daar word dus van die bestuur verwag om 'n kapitaalbasis te handhaaf wat die aard en omvang van die risiko vir die bank sal dek. Die kapitaal bestaan uit twee vlakke: Vlak I (primêre) kapitaal en Vlak 2 (sekondêre) kapitaal. Daar word van banke verwag om permanent 'n kapitaaltoereikendheidsverhouding te handhaaf wat ooreenkom met hul totale blootstelling aan risiko op 'n vlak van ten minsle 8%. Die verstandige regulasies van die Sentrale Bank van Liberie plaas bates in twee risiko-mandjies terwyl internasionale organisasies soos die Bank for International Settlement vier tot vyf risiko-mandjies het wat op die kategorie van die lener, selfbesturende entiteit, bank of korporasie gegrond is. Opbrengsgewende bates dui op die bank se gehalte en bestaande potensiaal vir blootstelling aan teenpartye wat verband hou met lenings- en beleggingsportefeuljes sowel as buitebalanstransaksies. Daar word van banke verwag om toereikende voorsiening teen verslegtende leningsportefeuljes te maak en om algemene voorwaardes vir presterende lenings te stel. Betroubare en bevoegde bestuur is die heel belangrikste vereiste vir die krag, vermoë en groei van enige finansiële instelling. Aanwysers van die gehalte van die bestuur se bevoegdheid is hoofsaaklik op individuele instellings van toepassing. Verder is dit nie maklik om enige gevolgtrekking ten opsigte van 'n bestuur se betroubaarheid te maak op grond van monetêre aanwysers nie, omdat die kenmerke van 'n goeie bestuur eerder kwalitatief van aard is. Sterk opbrengste en winsgewendheidsprofiele van 'n finansiële instelling dui op sy kapasiteit om verliese te absorbeer, fondse uit te brei, mededingend in die bankbedryf te wees, sy kapitaalbasis aan te vul en/of te vergroot, en dividende aan aandeelhouers te betaal. Bankinstellings maak staat op goeie opbrengsgehalte as hul eerste verdedigingslyn teen kapitaalvermindering as gevolg van kredietverliese, rentekoersrisiko's, bedryfsrisiko's en 'n afname in batewaarde. Likiditeit word dikwels beskou as 'n bevestiging van solvensie vir bankinstellings. Banke moet 'n minimum vlak van likiditeit handhaaf om verpligtinge soos onttrekkings na te kom en om lenings toe te staan. Likiditeit is 'n sterk vroeë waarskuwingsteken, en die tekort en/of gebrek daaraan knou openbare vertroue in die bank. Banke moet waak teen 'n strukturele wanafstemming van looptye. Onverstandige uitleenpraktyk verhoog 'n bank se blootstelling aan likiditeitsrisiko. Alle gelisensieerde banke word statutêr verplig om 'n minimum daaglikse likiditeitsverhouding van 15% te handhaaf, wat 'n maatstaf is van 'n bank se likiede bates teenoor deposito's. 'n Toepaslike regsraamwerk is 'n voorvereiste vir doeltreffende banksupervisie. Daar kan van toesighouers verwag word om sonder enige politieke druk op te tree slegs indien hulle nie afgedank kan word omdat hulle hul plig doen nie. Die New Financial Institutions Act van 1999 en die Central Bank Act van 1999 gee aan die Sentrale Bank die mag om banklisensies toe te staan en herroep, om toesig oor kommersiële banke te hou en om onbeperkte toegang tot beskermde inligting te kry. Daar is 'n behoefte om die toesighoudende kapasiteit deur die verskaffing van deurlopende korttermynopleiding en langtermyn- of nagraadse studie uit te bou.

This dissertation examines the performance of the Liberian iron ore industry from 1950-1985 and its viability in global markets, assuming stagnation (World Bank) and expansionist (Leontief et al.) expectations. It examines past trends in trade and investment patterns in the light of equilibrium allocations which imply the existence of efficient transportation links. This model assumes that given world sources and sinks as constrained by the supply and demand structure of the ore industry, each individual region acts as a basing point to maximize net social payoff from its ore trade. The model is validated on recent (1984) industry data and "explains" 91% of actual demands and 79% of actual trade flows. Price discrimination is evidenced in the form both of monopsony power exercised by some buyers in the Pacific Basin over intra-regional (e.g., Australian) and extra-regional (e.g., Brazilian, Liberian) producers and monopoly power permitting modest rents to be collected by some producers in Africa, including Liberia, from the European markets. In North America, rents appear for some domestic producers in some simulations. These results confirm quantitatively the descriptive results of others while postulating a much more competitive environment for producers. The model assumes world trade doubles through year 2000 or stagnates. Liberia fares poorly in either case, losing significant portions of its U.S. and of its EEC markets to Canada and Brazil respectively despite the maintenance of some resource rents globally. This analysis quantifies for the first time the claims of earlier studies that price discrimination exists, but indicates actual prices may be closer to long-run competitive prices than has generally been assumed by others. Thus, realistic ways for Liberia to increase its market shares require not only an expansion of the industrialized countries' steel industries but an aggressive willingness to absorb transport and other costs by foregoing rents and lowering costs. Removing diseconomies of small transport scale, absorbing freight, and lower U.S. exchange rates combined with world steel expansion could increase Liberian annual shipments by as much as 50 million tonnes per year or $1 billion annually.

The central question guiding this study is, how can Liberia's historical context of colonial state formation and reformation help explain public discourses surrounding gender violence in the postwar decade, 2003-2013? This question is addressed using original data from mixed qualitative methods including participant observation, visual methods, and semi-structured interviews. The research identifies narratives and meta-narratives produced by liberal institutions (including the Government of Liberia and international agencies), as well as informal discourses from adult Liberians of different backgrounds living in Greater Monrovia. Using critical discourse analysis, the argument identifies connections between the narratives that recur, the social realities they recall, and the power dynamics they perpetuate. These discourses are best understood in reference to liberal and colonial/imperial dynamics from Liberia's settlement period. Liberal institutions addressing gender violence in the postwar period face dilemmas in which universalist humanitarian ideals work in tandem with, and provide justification for, imperialism as a set of discursive and material relations. Nonelite Liberians instrumentalise and subvert both privileged donor discourses as well as long-standing colonial hierarchies of 'civilised' and 'country'. Additionally, the thesis examines how liberal institutions, traditional institutions, and Liberian citizens interact as agents of discursive construction. It will be shown that this pattern of discourse production is at times harmonious, as in the interactions around promoting male head-of-household responsibilities, and at other times adversarial, as in conflicts surrounding excision as an initiation practice for girls. Liberal institutions, non-elite Liberians, and traditional authorities both collude and compete in this era of dynamic normative contestation. Both the major discourses and the interactions that produce them can be explained in part by the liberal imperialism and its specific form of settler colonialism that propelled the founding and subsequent stages of state formation in Liberia. The consequences of that residual history indicate inherent - though, not irredeemable - structural limitations to a robust institutional response to gender violence. In this manner the study demonstrates the utility of historicising Liberia's contemporary gender violence discourses, and how doing so can address the longstanding bifurcation between rights and culture in international development and transnational feminist geography.

This thesis examines the phenomenon of child-soldiering from a different perspective. It seeks to challenge, using a novel approach, earlier studies on the roles of former child-soldiers in post-war societies. It focuses on the subjectivity of young veterans, that is war veterans formerly associated with armed forces and groups as children during the 14-year gruesome civil war which bedevilled Liberia between 1989 and 2003. This civil war claimed roughly 250,000 lives, and saw the active participation of approximately 21,000 child-soldiers. This thesis departs from previous works which mostly painted an apocalyptic picture of young veterans, and explores the nexus between their self-agency, Foucauldian technologies of the self and their transformation in the post-war society. The majority of previous scholarly works which have dominated the field of child-soldiering dwelt on the impact of armed conflict on the child-soldiers, the negative consequences, the causes of child-soldiering, and the rehabilitation and reintegration of the young veterans after their disarmament and demobilization. What this thesis seeks to do however, is to establish that, rather than considering the young veterans simply as social misfits, distraught and dispirited human beings, it should be noted that young veterans through their agency, are capable of ensuring their reintegration into their war-ravaged societies. Sadly, these young former fighters’ self-agency and technologies of the self in defining their civilian trajectories have often been overshadowed by vaunted humanitarian aid and multilayered war-profiteering. This study is underpinned by interpretive constructivism, symbolic interactionism, social identity theory, sociometer theory and expectancy theory, and sheds light on how young veterans’ self-agency, instrumental coalitions, and decision-making processes, synergistically shifted the negative identities foisted on them as a result of their participation in the war.

Despite the remarkable contributions made by women to secure peace in Liberia, women's representation in politics is still low. The first female African President has been elected, as well as a few women to strategic government positions, but the vast majority of women remain invisible. The reliance on these few women in government is inadequate to produce the significant changes that will be required to bring equality for all women. This study examines the recognition of women's relative participation and recognition in postwar reconstruction in Liberia. Differences between traditional and non-traditional women's participation in Liberia were found. This study includes interviews and document review as methods for exploring how women, traditional and nontraditional, may or may not participate in Liberian political decisions.

This dissertation examines the involvement of Liberia's religious and diaspora groups in the peace process that ended the 14-year Liberian Civil War (1989-2003). Its aims include determining the extent of, the rationale for, as well as the effects of the involvement of Liberia's religious and diaspora groups in the peacemaking efforts that were undertaken in the course of the Liberian conflict. While findings show that a multiplicity of factors were responsible for the eventual resolution of the protracted conflict, they also reveal that the action of both religious and diaspora actors influenced the trajectory of the conflict and the outcome of the peace process. The religious actors, being the initiators of the Liberian peace process, played such roles as mediators, dialogue facilitators, watchdogs and trustees of the entire process. Although their efforts were mainly influenced by the desire to fulfil the divine mandate to 'tend to the flock', achievable only in a peaceful and stable environment, religious actors' peacemaking roles also presented an opportunity to regain some of the societal influence that organized religion, especially Christianity, enjoyed during the 158 years of minority 'Americo-Liberian' rule. For diaspora actors, whose roles ranged from being founders and sponsors of warring factions, to providing succour to Liberians back home through remittances, and subsequently engaging the peace process, attaining political power through the barrel of the gun or through peaceful means served the same purpose. In achieving the dissertation's aims, a historical analysis of Liberia's socio-political environment is undertaken. Also examined are the roles played by various international, regional and national actors, either as peacemakers or as sponsors of various warring factions engaged in hostilities, as well as relevant theories or paradigms such as Conflict Transformation, Social Capital and Liberal Peace. This empirical study employed the means of qualitative research methods, obtaining primary data through interviews conducted in Liberia, Ghana, the USA and Nigeria.