Legitimacy after Conflict? Security Perceptions and State Legitimacy in Liberia

• In Event: The Politics of Non-State Governance and Control in Fragile States

Abstract

What explains the legitimacy of state institutions after conflict? Lacking capacity, post-conflict states must rely on the legitimacy of their institutions in order to establish authority and govern effectively. Yet, the onset of local violence and citizens’ perceptions of insecurity may undermine this legitimacy. Theories of output-based legitimacy hold that effective service provision increases the legitimacy of a state. This paper analyzes the extent to which perceptions of security among the local population foster state legitimacy in Liberia. We leverage data from an original SMS survey that yielded a nationally representative sample of 2,000 Liberians from all 15 counties. Using survey data we are able to compare state legitimacy on the district and the county level. We find that population perceptions of security, procedural justice, and democratic input play a key role in strengthening state legitimacy across these levels. The results underline the importance of security provision for establishing state legitimacy after conflict. They also demonstrate that sources of state legitimacy are multifaceted.

Authors

• Eric Stollenwerk, Freie Universität Berlin

• William G. Nomikos, Washington University in St. Louis