Embargo Period

5-10-2019

Degree Name

MA in Conflict Transformation

First Advisor

John Ungerleider, EdD.

Second Advisor

Dr Tatsushi Arai

Abstract

Since the end of the war in Liberia, post–conflict development agencies have spent tens of millions of dollars in Liberia on justice, governance, security and infrastructure. These social cohesion methods in the past were considered a way of stabilizing the peace process. Unfortunately, these methods listed above overlooked rural communities. And these rural communities are actually affected by the conflict more severely. Can development aid contribute to social cohesion after the Civil War by focusing only on urban areas when most rural communities continue to be neglected? Evidence from a field experiment in post-conflict Liberia has emerged with lack of the basic needs which are critical concerns for those in Liberian rural communities. As Liberia remains one of the countries where new conflicts may arise, utilizing Participatory Ranking Methodology (PRM) is a valuable tool to redirect resources more effectively. I will use this method, which includes both qualitative and quantitative approaches of data collection to analyze the causes of poverty, a known destabilizer, and examine the effects and linkages to conflicts in the rural communities of Nimba County. My findings will suggest how government and post-conflict development agencies can transform relationships and effectively build resilience among the rural community dwellers.

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