Peacekeeping Economies in a Sub-Regional Context: The Paradigmatic Cases of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract

One conflict zone that has experienced multiple but differentiated impacts of peacekeeping economies is the Mano River Union (MRU) area. Comprising Liberia, Sierra Leone and Côte d'Ivoire, it provides the empirical evidence for the analysis in this article. Two major questions form the basis of the discussions. First, how do the mandate, size, and composition of a peacekeeping operation affect the evolution of the peacekeeping economy? Secondly, how do these peacekeeping economies serve as channels of inclusion and exclusion in host societies? This article argues that the peacekeeping economies that emerged in these three states created new hierarchies of inclusion for those who managed to engage with the new economic realities and opportunities, and exclusion of those who lost out on the opportunities. Specifically, the article argues that—while peacekeeping economies mean increased income, mobility and opportunity for some locals (women in particular) among the lower-waged—the peacekeeping economy ‘system’ is set up to reward those who already have the most.