Post-conflict reconstruction in Liberia: People-centered strategy and impacts of Liberian civil society

This thesis argues for a role for reconciliation in post-conflict reconstruction. It analyzes the case of Liberia and investigates its post-conflict reconstruction process. This process has focused heavily on economic/social development and democratization as have many other post-conflict societies. However, the process deals with only a portion of post-conflict issues and ignores processes of reconciliation. Thus despite programs undertaken to date, Liberia still faces a number of post-conflict issues which contribute to political and social instability. This thesis analyzes the approaches of four local non-governmental organizations' reconciliation programs. It identifies both the impacts and the challenges of the programs. Lessons are identified to make possible more effective post-conflict reconstruction through reconciliation.