United Nations And Conflict Management Of The Civil War In Liberia

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Since the end of the Cold War, conflict in Africa has played a major role in setting the parameters of the UN’s mission and capabilities. The UN’s apparent inability to stop mass violence in Somalia and Rwanda provoked a debate over the effectiveness of available instruments for resolving intrastate conflicts. One outcome of this debate has been an increased willingness to allow regional and sub-regional initiatives to contribute to peacekeeping and conflict management efforts on the continent. This idea has become particularly appealing because the United States and other powerful nations have expressed increased reluctance to commit military resources to resolve conflicts deemed outside their strategic interests. This reality, in turn, has compelled African leaders to abandon their long tradition of aversion to collective action in peace and security. It is in view of the above that the researcher intends to investigate the role of united nations in conflict management with emphasis on the Liberia civil war.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objective of this study is to ascertain the efficacy of united nations and conflict management of the Liberia civil war

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The research work is of immense significance because it borders on the total restoration of peace in a state in the West African sub-region. The studies will look at the vast array of conflict management techniques in West Africa. Furthermore, the study will be invaluable to African leaders, 20 as it will enable them to handle crises at the early stages before it degenerates into a civil war. Those in the academia, particularly, researchers in the area of conflicts and conflict resolution will find this work as an indispensable reference point for future researches as it will richly add to existing literature on peacekeeping and international security. Finally, the economic community of west Africa States (ECOWAS) will find this study exceedingly useful because it will enable them to properly evaluate the peacekeeping efforts as effective instruments of international politics. 

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers united nations conflict and management of the civil war in Liberia, in the cause of the study, the researcher encounters the following limitation

a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study

b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

c) FINANCE: The finance available for the research work does not allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the researcher has other academic bills to cover.

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Peacekeeping 

Peacekeeping refers to activities intended to create conditions that favour lasting peace. Research generally finds that peacekeeping reduces civilian and battlefield deaths and reduces the risk of renewed warfare.

Conflict management

Conflict management is the ability to be able to identify and handle conflicts sensibly, fairly, and efficiently. Introduction to Management: Help and Review / Business Courses. 

Civil war

A civil war, also known as an intrastate war in polemology,  is a war between organized groups within the same state or country. The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region or to change government policies  

United Nations

The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization tasked to promote international cooperation and to create and maintain international order.