Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on the political economy aspects of Liberian state-building, particularly the governance of natural resources. It argues that in the framework of international state-building, securitisation, debt servicing and revenue collection from extractive industries have been prioritised to create an enabling environment that advances concessionary economic policies. The book advances the argument that neoliberal state-building and related economic policies have advanced transnational commercial interests in Liberian natural resources. It describes how the limited access state was essentially reinstated in Liberia in the process of staffing government positions and proceeds to discuss the electoral democracy as a means of externally legitimatising post-conflict governments. The book concludes that low confidence in the state's authority, including in its right to resources, perpetuates the fragile security situation.