Liberia - founded as a country for freed blacks in the early 1800s - is a nation of extreme contrasts from everything to its urban dwellers and rural tribal residents to the wealthy and extremely poor. Patterned after European colonies, with the newcomers taking land and resources from those who already lived there, its current state finds its roots in the past. A Liberian native describes his views on the country - and a possible new future for it - in his new book, released by Dog Ear Publishing.
"Liberia's Political Economy: An Examination of Public Institutional Quality" showcases author Stephen H. Gobewole's views of his native land and how it came to be that way. Historical background; analysis of such things as ethnic status, residence status, agriculture, economic constraints and confiscation of tribal land; research hypothesis; results and data collection; and summary and recommendations all are detailed in this book. An Afrobarometer study, a quantitative inquiry that measured citizens' perceptions of public institutional weakness based on their ethnic, residence and gender status, serves as a starting point to explain institutional failure in Liberia's government. The study's aim is to focus on such public institutions as rule of law, state authority and democratic accountability that are critical to enhance market performance, economic development and productive capability. In other words, such an approach will assist the Liberian government in minimizing poverty and improving its citizens' standard of living, the author writes, improving lives in a country rated as the third poorest in the world.Videos