Through the case study of the NPFL in Liberia, this thesis explains why some rebel groups are able to transform to a successful political organization after conflict, and others are unable to do so.
During the Scramble for Africa, Liberia was one of only two African countries to remain independent. This thesis shows that the United States used its influence to deter France and Britain from...Show moreDuring the Scramble for Africa, Liberia was one of only two African countries to remain independent. This thesis shows that the United States used its influence to deter France and Britain from encroaching upon Liberian territory during the latter half of the 19th and early 20th centuries, and that increased British and French aggression during the Scramble forced the US to abandon its traditional policy of diplomatic intervention and resort to unprecedented measures that potentially neglected the Monroe doctrine and reinforced a suzerainty-like relationship between the US and Liberia.Show less
The Ebola outbreak revealed that despite decades of restructuring, fundamental problems still exist within African (public) healthcare sectors. Several actors are now engaged in the African health...Show moreThe Ebola outbreak revealed that despite decades of restructuring, fundamental problems still exist within African (public) healthcare sectors. Several actors are now engaged in the African health sector, including traditional partners from the Global North, the private sector and increasingly more partners from the Global South. This thesis examines in what ways Cuba's and China's development cooperation with Ebola-affected states in the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic reflect an approach to leverage sustainable donor-driven health interventions in crisis settings. Based on a review of the literature on the sustainability of health interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a tailored framework was developed for short-term health interventions in crisis settings. This framework revolves around four aspects of analysis: 1. intervention of development partners and organisational setting, 2. stakeholder involvement and context awareness, 3. performance and flexibility and 4. sustainability. A between-case analysis of Cuba's and China's health interventions in the Ebola-affected states suggests that their interventions can be considered semi-sustainable. The analysis confirms that any intervention intended for the short-term in a public health crisis should be beneficial for the long-term. This thesis further discusses the benefits and challenges encountered by both development partners in SSA. The results also suggest that health systems strengthening in SSA require better coordination of aid towards the direct health needs of African people and a more holistic approach to health.Show less
This thesis identifies the political possibilities to establish a war crimes court in contemporary Liberian society and the role of civil society in this process.
“With growing numbers of public health emergencies in recent years, effective emergency response has become of central importance for national and international actors. Public health emergencies...Show more“With growing numbers of public health emergencies in recent years, effective emergency response has become of central importance for national and international actors. Public health emergencies such as the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Western Africa have demonstrated flaws in existing emergency response mechanisms of organizations such as the World Health Organization. One of the factors that hindered the timely containment of the outbreak was communities’ social resistance towards health authorities and health workers. In this context, this thesis examines to what extent the World Health Organization and health authorities have incorporated the voices of affected communities in Sierra Leone and Liberia from 2014 to 2016. Through the comparison of these two case studies, it thus aims to contribute to the field of public health emergency response by enhancing the understanding of communities’ critical role in epidemic emergencies such as the Ebola outbreak.”Show less
Bachelor thesis | Afrikaanse talen en culturen (BA)
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This thesis is an analysis of the report written by the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission, with a specific focus on the recommendation about the establishment of an extraordinary...Show moreThis thesis is an analysis of the report written by the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission, with a specific focus on the recommendation about the establishment of an extraordinary criminal tribunal. The different reasons why this extraordinary criminal tribunal has not been established are researched in this thesis.Show less
The literature on women’s inclusion in peacebuilding has not only raised much criticism about women’s poor involvement, but also hopes for what their inclusion could entail. This research aims to...Show moreThe literature on women’s inclusion in peacebuilding has not only raised much criticism about women’s poor involvement, but also hopes for what their inclusion could entail. This research aims to unravel the question of whether involving local women's groups in the official peace process will lead to women's political, legal and economic emancipation in post-conflict societies. This is done with a case study of Liberia, as it has become well-known for its active women’s peace movement, and election of the first woman president in Africa. The 2003 Comprehensive Peace Agreement was somewhat gender-sensitive, and also involved a regional women’s organization— MARWOPNET— as one of the signatories. Yet, while the gender agenda has been present in several programs and policies in Liberia’s reconstruction, the results so far have been moderate. This thesis argues that local women’s involvement in official peace processes will lead to gender issues being more present in countries’ post-conflict reconstruction. However, to achieve their goals, women’s organizations need support from other actors, and the focus should be on their involvement both in quality and quantity.Show less
