UNEMPLOYMENT: RECIPE FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF ARMED CONFLICT IN LIBERIA

Strayer University

Unemployment: Recipe For Another Round Of Armed Conflict In Liberia

A Directed Research Project Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Public Administration in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Masters in Public Administration

Submitted To:

Professor Antony Jacob, Ed.D..

BY

Karyokie Peeco Conway

Center City Campus, Philadelphia, Pa

March 2010

Abstract

This research paper addresses the issue of unemployment in Liberia and its impact on the future stability of the country and the West Africa Sub region. The study of the issue of unemployment in Liberia had reviewed that post and present government has not devoted efforts on creating the environment where Liberians could adequately prepare themselves for the job market. Unemployment is not limited to Liberia and there is not a suggestion that all those who are unemployed will take up arm to fight in conflict but as Liberia and the surrounding countries have experienced years of civil wars, unemployed former fighters are more likely to go back to war as a means of finding their livelihood.

To provide a contextual background information for this study, this research paper explore incidence, implications, and reasons for unemployment in Liberia, Furthermore, an detail overview of historical perspectives on unemployment and what is been done by the government of Liberia and its international partners to address this issue of unemployment. The Liberia government and international community have focused most of the most if not all post war reconstruction development projects in urban areas, but to address unemployment, enormous effort must be devoted to decentralizing development so that rural dwellers don't migrate to urban centers. Education for young people should be the most important strategy in addressing the problem of unemployment.

Acknowledgements

I wish to extend my profound thank and appreciation to Dr. Anthony Jacobs for his guidance and thorough feedback while writing this paper. I also like to thank Dr. Barket and Dr. Adrian Petresu for their guidance and encouragement in my long journey of pursuing my Master's degree. Lastly, I would like to extend my sincere thank and appreciation to my wife, Mr. Hawah Oprah Conway for providing me all of the emotional and financial support while pursuing my degree.

Table of Contents

Abstract2

Acknowledgements4

Chapter One: Introduction6

Introduction6

Context of the Problem10

Statement of the Problem11

Main Research Question and Sub questions12

Significance of the Study12

Research Design and Methodology13

Organization of the Study14

Chapter Two: Literature Review16

An Overview16

Some of the Main Causal Factors19

From Capabilities to Life Skills and Peace Education22

Conditions for Success30

An Ideal Pattern30

Some Risks of Failure34

Chapter Three: Underlining Factors for Unemployment in Liberia39

Americo-Liberians Rule39

Indigenous Uprisings41

Social Tensions42

Liberia - U.S Relations43

The Samuel Doe Administration (1980 - 1990)44

Repression under Doe46

The 1985 Presidential Election46

Attempted Coup of 1985 and Repression47

First Liberia Civil War (1989-1996)48

Chapter Four: Unemployment in Liberia Fueled Regional Instability52

Chapter Five: Address Unemployment, Prevent Renewed Armed Conflict and Stabilize Liberia and the Sub Region66

Chapter Six: Summary/Conclusion77

References78

Chapter One: Introduction

Introduction

Liberia is a small West African nation founded by freed slaves (Americo Liberians) from the United States in the 1820. An organization called the American Colonization Society (ACS) formed a settlement in Monrovia and ...