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| Background
Over the past 25 years, recurring conflict in Liberia has led to the destruction of its physical infrastructure, the pillaging of its key national resources, and the collapse of its political institutions. The election of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in 2005 is considered by many to be the best opportunity that Liberia has had in recent history to break the cycle of violence and establish the foundations for democracy.
There is, however, recognition that the conditions to ensure political stability and avoid a resurgence of armed conflict are not yet fully in place. Social dynamics are still anchored
in the remnants of the prolonged conflict and national capacities to address tensions are not sufficiently developed.
The country is now simultaneously seeking to reconstruct its physical infrastructure, reform its political institutions, promote reconciliation amongst different groups, and establish the foundations for sustainable development. The gap between these needs, the people’s expectations and the available resources to address them is enormous. Liberia must now deal with both the challenges that are common to any society emerging from years of war and the unavoidable tensions and conflicts that are part and parcel of the ‘normal’ social and political life of a nation. Through the development of those political institutions and social processes that can help to mediate and engage these challenges, the entrenchment of democratic governance will also be encouraged. Without developing constructive social systems that can effectively substitute the conflicting and dissociating tendencies that emerge before and during violent periods, there is little chance for the sustainability of the efforts at reconciliation, institutional reform and socio-economic development that the Government of Liberia is implementing, once UNMIL’s military and police presence is folded back.
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Liberia 
