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Timber Booms, State Busts: The political economy of Liberian timber

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  • Patrick Johnston

Abstract

This article places the political economy of Liberian timber in the context of the theory of state failure. It explores the relationship between private investment, state failure and war, highlighting how Charles Taylor exploited timber concessions to foreign firms as a proxy for effective state institutions in Liberia. It examines the reasons why foreign investment -- particularly in Liberia's timber industry -- prolonged the civil war and destroyed the country's formal economy. And it challenges the neo-liberal assumption that increased economic activity provides incentives for rulers to build stable institutions and to provide security to investors. Neo-liberal prescriptions coupled with a changing global economy produced no incentive for Charles Taylor, a faction leader from 1989 and Liberia's president from 1997 until exile in 2003, to attempt to develop state institutions or to prevent the collapse of the formal economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick Johnston, 2004. "Timber Booms, State Busts: The political economy of Liberian timber," Review of African Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(101), pages 441-456, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:revape:v:31:y:2004:i:101:p:441-456
    DOI: 10.1080/0305624042000295530
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    1. International Monetary Fund, 2003. "Liberia: Selected Issues and Statistical Appendix," IMF Staff Country Reports 2003/275, International Monetary Fund.
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    Cited by:

    1. Langlotz, Sarah & Potrafke, Niklas, 2019. "Does development aid increase military expenditure?," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 47(3), pages 735-757.
    2. Carr, Jamie A. & Petrokofsky, Gillian & Spracklen, Dominick V. & Lewis, Simon L. & Roe, Dilys & Trull, Nicholas & Vidal, Adriana & Wicander, Sylvia & Worthington-Hill, John & Sallu, Susannah M., 2021. "Anticipated impacts of achieving SDG targets on forests - a review," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    3. Geheb, Kim & Mapedza, Everisto, 2008. "The political ecologies of bright spots," IWMI Books, Reports H041593, International Water Management Institute.
    4. Geheb, Kim & Mapedza, Everisto, 2008. "The political ecologies of bright spots," Book Chapters,, International Water Management Institute.

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