Gizelis, Theodora-Ismene and Karim, Sabrina M (2024) How Epidemics affect Marginalized Communities in War-Torn Countries: Ebola, Securitization, and Public Opinion about the Security Forces in Liberia. World Development, 179. p. 106587. DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2024.106587
Gizelis, Theodora-Ismene and Karim, Sabrina M (2024) How Epidemics affect Marginalized Communities in War-Torn Countries: Ebola, Securitization, and Public Opinion about the Security Forces in Liberia. World Development, 179. p. 106587. DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2024.106587
Gizelis, Theodora-Ismene and Karim, Sabrina M (2024) How Epidemics affect Marginalized Communities in War-Torn Countries: Ebola, Securitization, and Public Opinion about the Security Forces in Liberia. World Development, 179. p. 106587. DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2024.106587
Abstract
Epidemics that overwhelm health and national institutions tend to disproportionately affect individuals from marginalized communities. The securitization of epidemics further exacerbates feelings of alienation and victimization by security forces among those in such communities. Focusing on this population, our study explores how experiences with securitization during the 2014 Ebola Virus epidemic in Liberia affected perceptions of the security forces. We leverage two, unique surveys conducted before and after the Ebola Virus Disease epidemic in two of Monrovia’s informal communities with histories of internally displaced persons and ex-combatants in Monrovia, Liberia–West Point and Peace Island. Our analysis allows us to assess differences in public opinion before and after the Ebola Virus Disease. We find that perceptions of police discrimination and disrespect increased in both communities and that demand for police services declined in both communities. With respect to the Armed Forces, direct contact with soldiers enhanced feelings of safety, but only among those who did not witness them engaging in abuse. Our findings suggest that securitization of epidemics could exacerbate trust in the state, thereby weakening its legitimacy.
Item Type: | Article |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | Securitization; Pandemics; Post-conflict; Marginalized communities; Health |
Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences Faculty of Social Sciences > Government, Department of |
SWORD Depositor: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Date Deposited: | 22 Feb 2024 15:23 |
Last Modified: | 16 May 2024 22:16 |
URI: | http://repository.essex.ac.uk/id/eprint/37843 |
Available files
Filename: 1-s2.0-S0305750X24000573-main.pdf
Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Filename: Ebola_Paper Appendix.pdf
Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0