{"id":1745,"date":"2016-12-09T15:03:23","date_gmt":"2016-12-09T20:03:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/international\/?page_id=1745"},"modified":"2017-03-30T09:51:40","modified_gmt":"2017-03-30T13:51:40","slug":"lsa-2017","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/international\/lsa-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"Liberian Studies Association 49th Annual Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Governance, Institutional Quality and Elections: Prospects and Challenges for Inclusive Democratic Statebuilding in Liberia”<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

49th Annual Conference of the Liberian Studies Association<\/h3>\n

30 March – 1 April, 2017
\nRamapo College of New Jersey<\/h3>\n

<\/h4>\n
General Info<\/span><\/a>Call for Proposals<\/span><\/a>Registration<\/span><\/a>Schedule<\/span><\/a>Sessions<\/span><\/a>Plenary Speaker<\/span><\/a>Accommodations & Transportation<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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About the Liberian Studies Association<\/h4>\n

\"lsa-logo\"<\/h4>\n

The Liberian Studies Association is a non-profit, scholarly organization created to provide a means for effective cooperation among persons interested in furthering research in all scholarly disciplines, including the sciences, social sciences, and humanities, on topics relevant to the Republic of Liberia and adjacent areas; to publish and otherwise disseminate the results of such research; to cooperate with scholarly organizations, and cultural, scientific, and educational institutions, nationally and internationally, having mutual interests in the exchange and presentation of information and ideas resulting from research in the subject field; to encourage interest in Liberian affairs; and to stimulate and facilitate academic contacts and educational exchanges between Liberia and the United States. The Liberian Studies Association produces the second oldest African studies journal published continuously in the United States. The organization publishes the Liberian Studies Journal, which is published bi-annually in June and December.<\/p>\n

Liberian Studies Association Officers 2017<\/h4>\n

Samuel Wai Johnson, Jr., President<\/em>, George Mason University
\nJackie Sayegh, Secretary<\/em>, Cornell University
\nMary Moran, Treasurer,<\/em> Colgate University
\nJames S. Guseh, Parliamentarian<\/em>, North Carolina Central University
\nMichael Wannah, Past President<\/em>, Concordia University Chicago<\/p>\n

Editorial Staff, Liberian Studies Journal<\/h4>\n

Editors: Emmanuel Oritsejafor and James Guseh
\nBook Review Editor: Emmanuel Oritsejafor
\nDesk Editor: Omar Reyes
\nCopy Editor: Ellen Withworth<\/p>\n

Conference Committee<\/h4>\n

George Gonpu, Assistant Professor of Economics, Ramapo College of New Jersey
\nDavid Colman, Associate Professor of African-American History, Ramapo College of New Jersey
\nKarl Johnson, Associate Professor of African-American Studies, Ramapo College of New Jersey
\nRosetta D’Angelo, Professor of Italian, Ramapo College of New Jersey
\nNiza Fabre, Associate Professor of Spanish, Ramapo College of New Jersey
\nStephen Rice, Dean, School of Humanities and Global Studies, Ramapo College of New Jersey
\nBen Levy, Director of International Education, Ramapo College of New Jersey<\/p>\n

Abstract Committee<\/h4>\n

Verlon Stone, Indiana University
\nGeorge Klay Kieh, Jr., University of West Georgia
\nEmmanuel Oritsejafor, North Carolina Central University
\nYekutiel Gershoni, Tel Aviv University
\nSamuel Wai Johnson, George Mason University<\/p>\n

About the Host Institution<\/h4>\n

Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Best Regional Public Universities North category, Ramapo College of New Jersey is sometimes viewed as a private college. This is, in part, due to its unique interdisciplinary academic structure, its size of more than 6,200 students and its pastoral setting in the foothills of the Ramapo Mountains on the New Jersey\/New York border.<\/p>\n

Undergraduate students may choose to concentrate their studies in one of five schools with more than 539 course offerings and 36 academic programs. Ramapo College boasts an average student\/faculty ratio of 16:1 and an average class size of 21; affording students the opportunity to develop close ties to the College\u2019s exceptional faculty.<\/p>\n

The College\u2019s mission is focused on the four \u201cpillars\u201d of a Ramapo education, international, intercultural, interdisciplinary and experiential (hands on), all of which are incorporated throughout the curricula and extracurricular programs and help students push intellectual, personal and professional boundaries. The international mission is further accomplished through a wide range of study abroad and student exchange links with institutions all over the world. Additional experiential programs include internships, co-op and service learning.<\/p>\n

\"arch\"<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Liberia goes to national election (presidential and legislative) October, the third election since the country marked an end to its second civil war in 2003. Since the end of the second civil war, the country has been seized with a development agenda focused on rebuilding institutions that foster trust, reconciliation, inclusion, and social cohesion. Despite some significant gains, Liberia still faces major cultural, economic, security and other challenges due to a widespread feeling of exclusion from and distrust in the current state building process, suggesting a state building process that is laden with polarized identities and competing perceptions of governance among the population. In addition, the performance of its major institutions continues to exude weaknesses and ineffectiveness in delivering on the promises of its development agenda. This situation has implications for the country\u2019s ability to sustain a state building agenda that is inclusive and resilient in the wake of and beyond the 2017 election.<\/p>\n

The Liberian Studies Association (LSA), the largest body of scholars working on Liberia, invites proposals for papers, panels, and roundtables related to theme and subthemes of its 49th Annual Meeting scheduled to take place at Ramapo College of New Jersey from March 30th \u2013 April 2nd, 2017. Theoretical and empirical papers, action research and case studies on the above theme and subthemes using a range of scholarly approaches including qualitative, quantitative and critical methods with data\u2010driven conclusions are welcomed.<\/p>\n

Sub-themes:<\/p>\n