Civil War and Democracy in West Africa

Conflict Resolution, Elections and Justice in Sierra Leone and Liberia

David Harris

• Publisher: I.B. Tauris
• Year: 2011
• ISBN:
  9780857732323
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Political Campaigns & Elections
• Index: Politics & International Relations

In the aftermath of explosive civil wars in Africa during the 1990s and 2000s, the establishment of multi-party elections has often been heralded by the West as signaling the culmination of the conflict and the beginning of a period of democratic rule. However, the outcomes of these elections are very rarely uniform, with just as many countries returning to conflict as not. Here, David Harris uses the examples of Sierra Leone and Liberia to examine the nexus of international and domestic politics in these post-conflict elections. In doing so, he comes to the conclusion that it is political, rather than legal, solutions that are more likely to enhance any positive political change that has emerged from the violence. This book is thus of significance to Western and African policy makers, and also to students and scholars who wish to engage with the critical issues of conflict resolution and reconciliation both in Sierra Leone and Liberia in particular and in the wider region in general.

Table of contents

• Cover
• About the Auther
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• List of Tables
• List of Abbreviations
• Maps
• Acknowledgements
• 1 Introduction
• 2 The Long Road to Conflict in Sierra Leone and Liberia38
• 3 Sierra Leone – War and Peace74
• 4 Sierra Leone – The 1996 and 2002 Elections94
• 5 Liberia – War and Peace130
• 6 Liberia – The 1997 and 2005 Elections153
• 7 Key Factors in the Elections in Sierra Leone and Liberia185
• 8 Post-Conflict Elections or Post-Elections Conflict208
• Notes
• Bibliography