The role of the diaspora in peace-building: The case of the Liberian diaspora in the United States.

摘要

Non-state actors such as the diaspora continue to challenge the traditional notion of international relations which is heavily state-centered. Diaspora groups across the world have the capacity to impact the affairs of the state in the host-land or in the homeland. Not only do diaspora groups contribute to the development of the homeland via remittances and investments, they are increasingly shaping affairs of the homeland in matters of war and peace. The U.S-based Liberian diaspora represents an archetypal case whereby, the diaspora actively supported war by offering moral and financial/material support towards Liberia's fourteen year Civil War.;In spite of initially supporting war, the U.S-based Liberian diaspora has been a major player in the post-conflict peace-building process. Factors that contributed to this turn around include: homeland domestic need for peace after years of war. Also, a fairly liberal environment created after the 2005 elections has reduced the risk of diaspora participation in homeland affairs; changing host land politics and foreign policy in a post-9/11 world where tough U.S financial disclosure requirements have been introduced, has made diaspora groups more cautious; and the strengthening of international regimes to hold perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity which has culminated in the indictment of Charles Taylor, serves as a potent deterrent to would-be provocateurs, that the era of impunity is over.;This research addresses how the U.S-based Liberian diaspora contributes towards peace-building in Liberia in four areas: Norm entrepreneurship; soft power agents; international collaborators for peace and political participation for peace.;However, the ability of the U.S-based Liberian diaspora to effectively contribute towards peace building depends on a number of factors. First, the ability of the U.S-based Liberian diaspora to effectively transfer peace-building norms will depend on its ability to recognize and address homeland cultural norms and values that may be in conflict with some of the norms being promoted.;Second, the ability of the U.S-based Liberian diaspora members to effectively serve as soft power actors will depend on whether its members are deemed by fellow Liberians as having the moral authority or not. Those viewed negatively as hardliners in the course of the war would be less effective at exerting soft power influence compared to those viewed as moderates.;Third, U.S-based Liberian diaspora members seeking international alliances for justice against war time excesses at the international level are more likely to be successful than a reliance on the Liberian justice system. This is because the Liberian government lacks the political will to seek justice against powerful former War Lords that are culpable. In addition, the Liberian justice system is widely perceived as corrupt and under-resourced. Diaspora members with U.S citizenship are more likely to face justice in U.S for any war crime related charges than in Liberia where the institutional capacity to hold perpetrators accountable are weak.;Finally, several obstacles would have to be addressed before the U.S-based Liberian diaspora can effectively participate in domestic Liberian politics and contribute towards peace-building. First, there has to be a permanent resolution of the Diaspora legal immigration status in the U.S. Second, there is the need for the passage of a dual citizenship law in Liberian that allows diaspora members with dual citizenship to hold key public office positions. Third, the most successful diaspora politicians will be those that are capable of building a more inclusive political structure that embraces all spheres of Liberian society. Without a broader political tent, well meaning peace-building initiatives are bound to fail.