What Role for Ethnicity? Political Behavior and Mobilization in Post-Conflict Sierra Leone and Liberia
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Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Dissertations Graduate College 5-2010 What Role for Ethnicity? Political Behavior and Mobilization in Post-Conflict Sierra Leone and Liberia Fodei Joseph Batty Western Michigan University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations Part of the Political Science Commons, and the Race and Ethnicity Commons Recommended Citation Batty, Fodei Joseph, "What Role for Ethnicity? Political Behavior and Mobilization in Post-Conflict Sierra Leone and Liberia" (2010). Dissertations. 501. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/501 This Dissertation-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. WHAT ROLE FOR ETHNICITY? POLITICAL BEHAVIOR AND MOBILIZATION IN POST-CONFLICT SIERRA LEONE AND LIBERIA by Fodei Joseph Batty A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Political Science Advisor: Jim Butterfield, Ph.D. Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan May 2010 UMI Number: 3410394 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMT Dissertation Publishing UMI 3410394 Copyright 2010 by ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This edition of the work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 WHAT ROLE FOR ETHNICITY? POLITICAL BEHAVIOR AND MOBILIZATION IN POST-CONFLICT SIERRA LEONE AND LIBERIA Fodei Joseph Batty, Ph.D. Western Michigan University, 2010 This dissertation examines political behavior in Sierra Leone and Liberia following the end of their civil wars. Dominant theories on politics in African societies suggest that ethnic interests underpin political behavior and elections are mere censuses of ethnic support for co-ethnic party elites. Yet, while using a proportional representation electoral system that is expected to result in splintered vote shares for multiple political parties, Sierra Leone's elections in 2002 concentrated votes around one presidential candidate and political party. Conversely Liberia's elections in 2005, held using a first-past-the-post electoral system that expectedly discourages multiple vote shares, diffused votes among several political parties and candidates. Given this variation the study examines the general question of what role ethnicity plays in the two elections by investigating why and how voters in Sierra Leone concentrate their votes around one political party whereas voters in Liberia diffuse their votes around several. The research has two focal points: 1) understanding the ways political elites recruit party membership in the post-conflict environment and 2) understanding how electorates respond to parties' and candidates' messages in addition to other cues and ultimately decide which to support. Data for the study was collected and analyzed using a triangulated range of qualitative and quantitative methods including survey research, elite interviews, content analysis, logistic regressions with logged odds and King et al.'s CLARIFY. The study finds that there is an important distinction between ethnic identity and ethnic interests; the latter reveals motivation but it is not a deterministic explanatory variable of vote choice. There is consistent evidence that ethnic identity shows how Sierra Leoneans and Liberians voted given geographic settlements but not why they voted. The study contributes to the scholarship on post-conflict political behavior and elections; ethnicity and politics; and democratization. Copyright by Fodei Joseph Batty 2010 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Good Lord carried me a long way in completing this dissertation. To put my remarkable journey into perspective; 12 years ago I was a refugee in the Republic of Guinea, stateless and ostensibly denied a decent life by the violence of the civil war that was raging in Sierra Leone. Getting a doctorate from an academic institution in America was just a mere dream at the time but it was a dream that I always carried with me during those trying times. Somehow, the feeling that acquiring a good education will enable me to contribute to the alleviation of suffering in Sierra Leone and similar places torn by strife never left me. I thank the Good Lord for bringing me this far and helping me to achieve my dreams. The process of completing over a year of rigorous fieldwork in Sierra Leone and Liberia could have been nearly impossible were it not for the generous support I received in funding under a Jennings Randolph Dissertation Fellowship from the United States Institute of Peace in Washington D.C. I would like to thank the staff of the USD3 for all the good work that they do in the world, especially Lynn Tesser for her invaluable support and encouragement. A lot of people, also, have contributed to my journey and I shall be eternally grateful to them. Mere mention in a couple of lines does not do justice for everything that they have done for me but this opportunity serves to acknowledge their efforts in my life. I would like to begin by thanking my very dear mother Madam Feimata Batty for her inspirational life and for everything that I am today. Words cannot sufficiently express my gratitude and admiration of the qualities of this virtuous and gracious woman ii Acknowledgments—Continued so I say simply - thank you mom! This dissertation is dedicated to you. I am also very thankful to two special people in my life who now live in blessed memory, my late dad Jacob Sandy Batty for being a father and a gentleman and my dearly beloved grandma Mama Nurse Regina Sao Kallon for the unparalleled affection she showed me before she departed this world for eternity. I am deeply grateful to the members of my dissertation committee, Dr. Jim Butterfield, Dr. Sybil Rhodes, Dr. John Clark of Western Michigan University and Dr. Earl Conteh-Morgan of the University of South Florida for their wisdom, guidance and patience throughout the entire process of forging my thesis from a mere series of rambling thoughts to the academic document that it is today. I would like to relay a special sense of gratitude to Dr. Jim Butterfield my committee chair, academic advisor and mentor for all the support, patience and understanding over the years. When things appeared bleak he encouraged me to keep writing, a better day will come he assured. I thank you for the instant feedback on chapter drafts and for your patience. I am also eternally grateful to the late Dr. Manindra Mohapatra of Indiana State University for his invaluable support in facilitating my entry into graduate school and for his mentoring and support during my early years in the United States. Rest in peace Dr. Moh.! The Department of Political Science at WMU has been a bulwark of support in my graduate education and I am grateful to all faculty, friends and colleagues within the department especially Dr. Kevin Corder our very affable chairperson for the logistical support he extended to me for professional growth and especially for introducing me to CLARIFY and political methodology generally. I thank Drs. Paul Clements and Datta- Sandhu (Sushi) of WMU and Drs. Samory Rashid and Stan Buchanan of Indiana State iii Acknowledgments—Continued University and Dr. Kirby Goidel of Louisiana State University for their support over the years. I am also grateful to Barbara Dekoekkoek, Valerie Ott, Mary Grant, Dottie Barr and other staff of the Department front office for their service over the years and patience in answering my numerous questions. To my colleagues Mihaiela Ristei, Geoffrey Kaituko, Norris Tweah and a long list of others too numerous to mention here, I thank you for your friendship in navigating the challenging environment of graduate school. To my sister, Doris Batty, how can I even begin to thank you? You are everything a little brother could wish for. You sacrificed so much of yourself for me and us that all I can say is thank you. I pray that I never disappoint you. To Sheku (Edmond) and Isata; Mrs. Kulah Torniwa (Sicy Kulah) and family; Sicy Betty Batty of Kenema and family; Borbor Brima Batty; Aunty Amelia Gabba and family and our dearly departed uncle the late David Gabba; Sahr and Kadie Gbondo and family; Mary Sesay (Mrs. Kuyateh) and family; Nasirah and Namassa Sesay; Lydia and Joseph Koroma; Yusufu Silla (Suj) and Alpha Ibrahim Sesay (Tex), I acknowledge the significant parts each of you have played in my life and I say thank you for everything. I am also deeply indebted to a very long list of very special people for their unceasing support and encouragement that has made a huge difference in my life including the following: Mr. A.P. Koroma and Aunty Safiatu Koroma; Reverend Alfred and Aunty Mary Lukie Samforay and family; Dr. Alfred Bobson-Sesay and Mamy lye Bobson-Sesay and family; Dr. Mohamed Dabo and Aunty Neneh Dabo; Mr. John Len Massaquoi and Aunty Fatmata Massaquoi (my parents-in-law); Bunting and Elita Jones; Mr. and Mrs. Josephus Tucker; Dr. and Mrs. Ahmed Ramadan Dumbuya; Dr. Joseph Bangura and family, and Professor and Mrs. Romeo Phillips. Truly, each of you has iv Acknowledgments—Continued made a difference in my life. I am also deeply grateful to Hope Smith for her efforts and professionalism in editing the final manuscript for me. I met a lot of people in the field in Sierra Leone and Liberia who facilitated my work and helped me to complete the project.