Liberian Studies Journal
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
VOLUME XXVII 2002 Number 2 LIBERIAN STUDIES JOURNAL sew, LIBERIA MONSERRADO MARGIB1 ,-6°N 6°N- Geography Deportment 10°W sow Unndersty of Pttsburgh of Johnstown Published by THE LIBERIAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION, INC. VOLUME XXVIII 2003 Number 1 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor LIBERIAN STUDIES JOURNAL Editorial Policy The Liberian Studies Journal is dedicated to the publication of original research on social, politi- cal, economic, scientific, and other issues about Liberia or with implications for Liberia. Opin- ions of contributors to the Journal do not necessarily reflect the policy of the organizations they represent or the Liberian Studies Association, publisher of the Journal. Manuscript Requirements Manuscripts submitted for publication should not exceed 25 typewritten, double-spaced pages, with margins of one-and a-half inches. The page limit includes graphs, references, tables and appendices. Authors may, in addition to their manuscripts, submit a computer disk of their work preferably in MS Word 2000 or WordPerfect 6.1 for Windows. Notes and references should be placed at the end of the text with headings, e.g., Notes; References. Notes, if any, should precede the references. The Journal is published in June and December. Deadline for the first issue is February, and for the second, August. Manuscripts should include a cover page that provides the title of the text, author's name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and affiliation. Anonymous referees will review all works. Manuscripts are accepted in English and French. Manuscripts must conform to the editorial style of either the Chicago Manual of Style, or The American Psychological Association (APA), or Modern Language Association (MLA). Authors should send their manuscripts for consideration by regular mail or e-mail attachments to: Amos J. Beyan, Editor Liberian Studies Journal Friedmann Hall, Department of History Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 269-387-2664 All Book Reviews should be mailed to: Phyllis Belt-Beyan, Associate Editor Liberian Studies Journal College of Education, Teaching, Learning & Leadership 3418 Sangren Hall Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 269-387-3898 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor VOLUME XXVII 2002 Number 2 LIBERIAN STUDIES JOURNAL Guest Editor D. Elwood Dunn Sewanee - The University of the South Editor Amos J. Beyan Western Michigan University Associate Editor Phyllis Belt-Beyan Western Michigan University Book Review Editor Tim Geysbeek Grand Valley State University EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: William C. Allen, Virginia State University D. Elwood Dunn, Sewanee - The University of the South James N. J. Kollie, Sr., University of Liberia Alpha M. Bah, College of Charleston Warren d'Azevedo, University of Nevada Momo K. Rogers, Kpazolu Media Enterprises Christopher Clapham, Lancaster University Yekutiel Gershoni, Tel Aviv University Thomas Hayden, Society of African Missions Lawrence Breitborde, Knox College Svend E. Holsoe, University of Delaware Romeo E. Philips, Kalamazoo College Coroann Okorodudu, Rowan College of N. J. Henrique F. Tokpa, Cuttington University College LIBERIAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Phyllis Belt-Beyan, Western Michigan University, President Mary Moran, Colgate University, Secretary-Treasurer James Guseh, North Carolina State University, Parliamentarian Yekutiel Gershoni, Tel Aviv University, Past President Timothy A. Rainey, Johns Hopkins University Joseph Holloway, California State University-Northridge FORMER EDITORS Al-Hassan Conteh Amos J. Beyan C. William Allen Edward J. Biggane D. Elwood Dunn Svend Holsoe Jo Sullivan Edited at the History Department, Western Michigan University The Editors and Advisory Board gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Diether H. Haenicke, Institute for International and Areas Studies, the History Department, and the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Leadership, Western Michigan University. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor CONTENTS INTRODUCTION by E. Elwood Dunn 5 THOUGHTS ON LIBERIAN STUDIES by Svend E. Holsoe 7 THE SIERRA LEONE/LIBERIA BORDER AREA DURING A DECADE OF CONFLICT by Marilyn Silberfein 13 THE ROLE OF THE CENTRAL BANK IN FINANCING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN POSTWAR LIBERIA by Francis L. M. Horton 23 SEARCHING FOR SOLUTIONS IN POST-WAR LIBERIA by Reginald A. Hoyt & Alexander L. Peal 39 A refereed journal that emphasizes the social sciences, humanities and the natural sciences, the Liberian Studies Journal is a semiannual publication devoted to studies on Africa's oldest Repub- lic. The annual subscription rate is US$40.00, US$15.00 for students, and US$50.00 for insti- tutions. It includes membership in the Liberian Studies Association, Inc. All manuscripts and related matters should be addressed to Dr. Amos J. Beyan, Editor, Liberian Studies Journal, Friedmann Hall, Department of History, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008. Subscriptions and other business matters should be directed to Dr. Mary Moran, Secre- tary-Treasurer, Liberian Studies Association, Inc., Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Colgate University, 13 Oak Drive, Hamilton, New York 13346-1398. E-mail: [email protected] Copyright © 2002 by the Liberian Studies Association ISSN 0024 1989 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor 5 Introduction This special issue of two issues in one has been made necessary to enable the Liberian Studies Association to fulfil its obligation of releasing two issues of the Liberian Studies Journal per annum. We apologize to the subscribers of the Liberian Studies Journal for the release of only two volumes out of the required six volumes during the editorship of Al-Hassan Conteh from 2001 to 2004. We endeavor to solve this problem by publishing together Volume 27 Number 2 (2002) and Volume 28 Number 1 (2003). This will be followed by the combined publication of Volume 28 Number 2 (2003) and Volume 29 Number 1 (2004). The first special issue features four articles and ample important documents. The articles cover social, political, and issues facing post-conflict Liberia ranging from the environmental to banking challenges.The documents are archival troves on contending versions of the controversial 1955 elections in Liberia. As I have had cause to do before, I thank Editor Amos J.Beyan and other members of the Edito- rial Advisory Board of the Liberian Studies Journal for calling upon me to render this service to the journal. Liberian Studies Journal, XXVII, 2 (2002) PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor 7 Thoughts on Liberian Studies Svend E. Holsoe* It has been good to meet old friends, and to make new ones. Since I am moving toward elder status, and since it is over 50 years ago that I first went to Liberia I appreciate being invited to say a few words. Having been involved from the beginning in what is now the Liberian Studies Association and its Journal, it might be worth- while to look back for a few moments, before making some comments about the current situation in Liberia, and what might be done in the near future. In the 1960's a group of individuals were either finished or were finishing their graduate studies. We were all interested in Liberia, but we were scattered and without a forum to gather, present, or publish our research work. As early as 1965, while in London, I met David Foley, who at the time was finishing his dissertation at the Lon- don School of Economics. I floated the idea with him of starting a journal. He was interested, but as with me, we were still in the midst of our research and trying to finish our degrees. In the spring of 1967, having completed my dissertation, I began searching for work. I was pleasantly surprised to be offered a position at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, to join their Sociology and Anthropology Department, and to begin an African Studies Program. I accepted the offer. It was only much later that I learned that Gus Liebenow, known to many of you, who at the time was the Founder/ Director of the African Studies Program at Indiana University, had suggested me for the position. It was while at DePauw that I began thinking again about starting a journal. I had no experience in such matters but thought it worthwhile to create an outlet for Liberian research. I spoke to and corresponded with others who were involved in Liberia. All of them were enthusiastic for a journal, though I have to say that Gus Liebenow gave me pause. "Yes," he said "it would be a good idea, and I can add it to my collection of first issues of journals, which are never published again." That was a challenge. So, with a grant of $600, received from the Aquinas Fund, a source suggested by the administration at DePauw, the journal was begun. It was just enough to cover the printing of one issue in what was expected to be two issues a year. It was a gamble whether