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Liberal democracy from beneath? A study of norm internalization in post-war Liberia

Uhlin, Fanny LU (2021) FKVK02 20211
Department of Political Science
Abstract
Research on norm internalization and local ownership in peace processes has not often been combined in peace and conflict studies. This paper sets out to see on the one hand, to what degree liberal democratic norms has spread in Liberia since the ending of the civil war, and on the other hand, if the peace process, –characterized by hybridity – could explain the norm internalization process. Through process tracing, empirical research has been done using both governmental statements, future goals, and actual implementation of laws. This is later analyzed with the goal of answering the question: to what degree has liberal democratic norms spread in post-war Liberia? The empirical study shows that Liberia has reached what is called stage one... (More)
Research on norm internalization and local ownership in peace processes has not often been combined in peace and conflict studies. This paper sets out to see on the one hand, to what degree liberal democratic norms has spread in Liberia since the ending of the civil war, and on the other hand, if the peace process, –characterized by hybridity – could explain the norm internalization process. Through process tracing, empirical research has been done using both governmental statements, future goals, and actual implementation of laws. This is later analyzed with the goal of answering the question: to what degree has liberal democratic norms spread in post-war Liberia? The empirical study shows that Liberia has reached what is called stage one in the norm ’life-cycle’ – the norm of liberal democracy has diffused and been adopted by the local political elite – swell as stage two, where the norm is institutionalized. Though, stage three – full internalization of the norm – is not fully reached. The analysis suggests that the hybridity in the peace process has lowered the risk for the adopted norms to be suppressed through friction, and that perhaps a hybrid peace process is a fruitful environment for a norm internalization process. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Uhlin, Fanny LU
supervisor
organization
course
FKVK02 20211
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
norm internalization, liberal democracy, Liberia, women’s rights, property rights, access to justice, hybridity
language
English
id
9046861
date added to LUP
2021-07-06 10:57:28
date last changed
2021-07-06 10:57:28
@misc{9046861,
  abstract     = {{Research on norm internalization and local ownership in peace processes has not often been combined in peace and conflict studies. This paper sets out to see on the one hand, to what degree liberal democratic norms has spread in Liberia since the ending of the civil war, and on the other hand, if the peace process, –characterized by hybridity – could explain the norm internalization process. Through process tracing, empirical research has been done using both governmental statements, future goals, and actual implementation of laws. This is later analyzed with the goal of answering the question: to what degree has liberal democratic norms spread in post-war Liberia? The empirical study shows that Liberia has reached what is called stage one in the norm ’life-cycle’ – the norm of liberal democracy has diffused and been adopted by the local political elite – swell as stage two, where the norm is institutionalized. Though, stage three – full internalization of the norm – is not fully reached. The analysis suggests that the hybridity in the peace process has lowered the risk for the adopted norms to be suppressed through friction, and that perhaps a hybrid peace process is a fruitful environment for a norm internalization process.}},
  author       = {{Uhlin, Fanny}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Liberal democracy from beneath? A study of norm internalization in post-war Liberia}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}