Ripples of Hope

Robert M. Press earned his PhD in political science at the University of Florida in 2004. He is the author of two books: Peaceful Resistance: Advancing Human Rights and Democratic Freedom (Ashgate, 2006); and The New Africa: Dispatches from a Changing Continent (U. Press of Florida, 1999).

"A very interesting read, and the application of social movement theory offers news insights into the developments in Sierra Leone between late 1970s and 1990s - as well as a critical rethinking of the theory itself in light of the country's own experiences." - Ismail Rashid, Professor of History, Vassar College "I honestly congratulate and thank [Press] for the in-depth [work]. [He has] gone underneath the 'story' to the underlying issues contributing to the state of affairs in Liberia=, this work highlights deep rooted issues that any serious person seeking to engage the Liberian society can take clues form. It brings out 'hidden reasons' for the way the society operates." - T. Debey Sayndee. Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies and Director of the Kofi Annan Institute for Conflict Transformation, University of Liberia "Enormously rich, interesting and original. I think that the book will be a very important contribution to the study of social movements in West Africa. The cacophony of voices, which could have cluttered the text, feels fresh and original, because they are drawn from many sources, some expected, some not. They add up a very convincing account of the political history and social activism of the country for the past few decades." - Lansana Gberie, former journalist; author of A Dirty War in West Africa: the RUF and the Destruction of Sierra Leone; currently Senior Associate & Head of Monrovia Office, International Center for Transitional Justice Monrovia, Liberia"Compelling.... A welcomed corrective to overdetermined academic theories prevalent in the West.... Recommended." - Choice Magazine

• Acknowledgments Map of Africa Introduction 1. Resisting Repression without Violence: New Theoretical Perspectives Part One: Sierra Leone 2. Students Shake the Pillars of Power 3. Women Help Restore Democracy 4. Mass Noncooperation Helps Defeat a Violent Junta Part Two: Liberia 5. Nonviolent Resistance in Abeyance: Courageous Dissent: the Doe Years 6. Peaceful Resistance during Liberia's Civil War: the Taylor Years Part Three: Kenya 7. Individual Resistance against Repression in Kenya (1987-1991) 8. Establishing a Culture of Resistance (1991-2002) 9. Conclusion: Implications for the study of Social Movements and Nonviolent Resistance Appendix Methodology Interviewees Comparative levels of repression Chronologies Abbreviations References Index About the author