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State of Peace, Reconciliation and Conflict in Liberia

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State of Peace, Reconciliation and Conflict in Liberia RESEARCH REPORT State of Peace, Reconciliation and Conflict in Liberia This report presents the findings on the state of peace, reconciliation, and conflict in Liberia. It is not to be shared or quoted without the permission of the author and Catholic Relief Services, Liberia Country Program. Cover photo by David Snyder/CRS © 2016 Catholic Relief Services. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced, displayed, modified or distributed without the express prior written permission of the copyright holder. For permission, contact [email protected]. ii Table of Contents LIST OF TABLES ..............................................................................................................................V LIST OF SUPPLEMENTARY TABLES ...........................................................................................V LIST OF FIGURES ...........................................................................................................................IX LIST OF SUPPLEMENTARY FIGURES. ........................................................................................X LIST OF APPENDICES. .................................................................................................................XI LIST OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................... XII ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...............................................................................................................III EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................. 2 1. RESEARCH BACKGROUND .......................................................................................................9 1.1 Popular Perceptions Of The State Of Peace And Conflict In Liberia .................9 1.2 The Need For Evidence For Effective and Concerted Peacebuilding .............10 1.3 Goal, Specific Objectives, and Expected Outputs of the Study .........................11 1.4 Research Questions ............................................................................................................... 11 1.5 Methodology and Processes ..............................................................................................12 1.5.1 Study Methodology for Quantitative Survey ...................................................12 1.5.2 Preparation and Administration of the Survey ...............................................12 1.5.3 Design and Administration of the Qualitative Research Component .. 14 1.5.4 Structure of Report ................................................................................................... 14 2. RESEARCH FINDINGS.............................................................................................................15 2.1 Profile of Respondents ........................................................................................................ 15 2.2 Perceptions of the State and Nature of Peace in Liberia ...................................... 15 2.3 Perceptions on the State of Reconciliation in Liberia .............................................17 2.4 Perceptions on the Risks of Recurrence of Violent Conflict in Liberia .............2 2.4.1 Perceptions of risks for descent into violence ................................................21 2.4.2 Perceptions of risks for descent into violence ...............................................22 2.4.3 KII perspectives on the risk of relapsing into war ........................................22 2.4.4 Conflict trigger factors ........................................................................................... 24 2.4.5 Conflict trigger factor ............................................................................................. 26 2.5 Respect for Basic Freedoms, Rights and Rule of Law Implications for Peace in Liberia ...............................................................................................................27 iii 2.6 Gender Equity, Justice, and Peace ................................................................................30 2.7 Democratic Participation, Political Inclusion, Elections, and the Potential for Violence......................................................................................... 33 2.8 Social Inclusion, Equity, Coexistence and Peace ..................................................... 36 2.9 Role of Government in promoting peace ................................................................... 38 2.10 Role of State in conflict resolution ................................................................................ 42 2.11 Role of the Private Sector .................................................................................................44 2.12 Religion and peace in Liberia .......................................................................................... 47 2.13 Culture, Tradition, Customs and Peace ........................................................................ 61 2.14 Personal Attitudes, Behaviors, and Practice for Social Cohesion .....................73 3. DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS ..................................................................................................86 3.1 Key Issues and Implications ............................................................................................. 86 3.1.1 Perceptions of the State and Nature of Peace in Liberia ......................... 86 3.1.2 Perceptions on the State and Level of Reconciliation in Liberia ........... 86 3.1.3 Perceptions on the Risks of Recurrence of Violent Conflict in Liberia .......87 3.1.4 Respect for Basic Freedoms, Rights and Rule of Law Implications for Peace .......................................................................................................................90 3.1.5 Gender Equity, Justice, and Peace ....................................................................90 3.1.6 Democratic Participation, Political Inclusion, Elections, and the Potential for Violence .............................................................................90 3.1.7 Social Inclusion, Equity, Coexistence and Peace ..........................................91 3.1.8 Role of Government in promoting peace ........................................................ 92 3.1.9 Role of State in conflict resolution ..................................................................... 93 3.1.10 Role of the Private Sector ...................................................................................... 93 3.1.11 Religion and peace in Liberia ...............................................................................94 3.1.12 Culture, Tradition, Customs and Peace ............................................................ 95 3.1.13 Personal Attitudes, Behaviors, and Practice for Social Cohesion......... 95 3.2 Areas of Further Research ................................................................................................ 96 4. REFLECTIONS ON PERCEPTIONS OF PEACE, RECONCILIATION AND CONFLICT .......................................................................................................................98 5. RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................................................................101 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................... 107 APPENDICES................................................................................................................................108 iv List of Tables TABLE 1 MEAN OF RESPONSES ON CONTRIBUTION OF POSTWAR PROCESSES ON RECONCILIATION TABLE 2 PERCEPTIONS OF FAIRNESS, FREEDOM, AND TRANSPARENCY IN LIBERIA BY COUNTY TABLE 3 PERCEIVED NEUTRALITY OF GOVERNMENT IN RESOLVING INTERGROUP CONFLICTS BY COUNTY TABLE 4 SUMMARY PRIVATE SECTOR IN POLITICS AND PEACEBUILDING TABLE 5 BELIEF IN RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES AS A CONFLICT RISK FACTOR IN LIBERIA BY RELIGION OF RESPONDENT TABLE 6 CULTURE PROMOTES VIOLENCE BY CULTURES PROMOTE PEACE TABLE 7 RESPONDENTS’ ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTIVENESS OF TRADITIONAL RULERS IN PROMOTING INCLUSIVENESS TABLE 8 ACCEPTANCE OF INTERMARRIAGES OF RELATIONS TO OTHER GROUPS BY AGREEMENT ON FREEDOM OF INTERMARRIAGES TABLE 9 CULTURES ACCOMMODATE STRANGERS BY WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPTING POSTING TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY List of Supplementary Tables TABLE 2.2A CURRENT STATE OF PEACE IN LIBERIA TABLE 2.2B STATE OF PEACE COMPARED TO BEFORE WAR TABLE 2.2C TYPE OF PEACE IN LIBERIA TABLE 2.3A AGREEMENT ON RECONCILIATION IN POSTWAR LIBERIA BY GENDER OF RESPONDENTS TABLE 2.3B RECONCILIATION IN POSTWAR LIBERIA BY COUNTY OF INTERVIEW OF RESPONDENTS TABLE 2.3C CROSS TABULATION OF EDUCATIONAL LEVEL WITH MEAN OF AGREEMENT ON RECONCILIATION TABLE 2.4A BELIEF THAT LIBERIA CAN DESCEND INTO ANOTHER VIOLENT NATIONAL-LEVEL CONFLICT v TABLE 2.4B RESPONDENTS’ ASSESSMENT OF THE RISK OF LIBERIA RETURNING TO WAR TABLE 2.4C ASSESSMENT OF RISK OF RETURN TO WAR BY GENDER TABLE 2.4D PERCENTAGE OF RESPONDENTS WHO RATED UNDER LISTED FACTORS AS POTENTIAL INSTIGATORS OF VIOLENT NATIONAL- LEVEL CONFLICT FROM A HIGH TO A VERY HIGH EXTENT TABLE 2.9A PERCEPTIONS CAPACITY OF GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA TO SECURE PEACE POST UNMIL TABLE 2.9 B RESPONDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF EXTENT TO WHICH GOL IS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING SECURITY AFTER UNMIL LEAVES BY COUNTY TABLE 2.9C CHI-SQUARE TESTS TABLE 2.10A CHI-SQUARE TESTS ON PERCEIVED NEUTRALITY OF GOVERNMENT IN RESOLVING CONFLICTS
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