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Liberia’s Diasporas as Governance and Development Actors Robtel Neajai Pailey May 9, 2013 Accra, Ghana 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Governance for Development in Africa Residential School (GDiA) SOAS/CDD/Mo Ibrahim Foundation. Diasporas in Governance/Development.
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Liberia’s Diasporas as Governance and Development ActorsRobtel Neajai PaileyMay 9, 2013Accra, Ghana2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Governance for Development in Africa Residential School (GDiA) SOAS/CDD/Mo Ibrahim Foundation
Diasporas in Governance/Development • Adamson (2002)-‘diasporas as political projects’ • Political moblization a function of the politics of why/how they left countries of origin • Diasporas from conflict zones attempt to ‘transform home’ (destructive vs. constructive) -Send humanitarian relief (remittances) -Mobilize in the host nation -Raise international attention about countries of origin -Fund insurgent groups to topple unfavorable regimes
Liberia Born out of Diasporic Experiment • Movement • Dispersal • Flux
Major Waves of Migration I • 1822-1847-First African Republic Founded • 1980 Coup-Samuel K. Doe topples True Whig Party hegemony • 1985-Fraudulent elections entrenches Doe/Quiwonkpa coup leads to reprisals • 1989-Outbreak of civil war led by Taylor
Major Waves of Migration II • 1997-Elections entrenches Taylor • 2002-2003-LURD/MODEL offensive • 2003-Taylor exiled; interim government established • 2005-2011: First post-war elections-Sirleaf creates ‘enabling environment’ • 2011-Second post-war elections
Liberian Diasporas Engage in Development/Governance Political leadership determines diasporic engagement possibilities/outcomes (CRISES OF GOVERNANCE/DEVELOPMENT) • 1980s DOE • 1990s TAYLOR • 2000s SIRLEAF
1980s DOE • 1985 elections rigged-EJS steps down from Senatorial seat • US supports Doe in exchange for Cold War loyalties • Diasporas=enemies of the state • Diasporas rally in U.S. to topple Doe (politicized for the first time) • Charles Taylor voted catalyst for change
1990s TAYLOR • 1989-1997-Diasporas fund Taylor insurgency • Diasporas as humanitarian actors; rallying abroad to end civil war (‘3rd humanitarian space’-Lubkemann) • 1997-”You kill my ma, you kill ma pa, I will vote for you!” (Taylor/Sirleaf head to head) • Diasporas minimally tolerated during Taylor’s reign • 2003-Diasporas rally for Taylor’s exit
2000s SIRLEAF • 2005-Sirleaf elected in first term • Diasporas embraced in enabling environment (‘3rd post-conflict space’-Pailey) • Returnees=conduits of neo-liberal reforms (IPRS, PRS) • Corruption exposed (returnees implicated)
Diasporas in Governance and Development NOW • 2011 elections-Sirleaf wins second term • Multi-layered governance structures (local, international, diasporic) • Increased advocacy for dual citizenship • Diasporas increasingly lobbying against corruption (Leymah Gbowee, John Morlu, et. al) • Returnee hegemony?
Liberia’s Diasporic Dialectic • Contestation • Resistance • Migration • Exile • Return