Liberia faces a major political transition in 2018. The first since the end of the country’s civil war where a peaceful transfer of power from one democratically elected president, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, to another president to be determined at elections in October this year. This transfer of power will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Liberian Studies Association (LSA). These milestones present Liberia with new possibilities for development, and academics who are studying Liberia with new questions about the study and future of the country. The Liberian Studies Association (LSA), founded to promote and facilitate dialogue and exchange among scholars of Liberia has been an active part of the process of institutionalizing discussions about Liberia through various forms of academic research. Thus, this 50th anniversary offers a moment for critical reflections about the study and understanding of Liberia across the globe.

In celebration, the LSA invites proposals for papers, panels, and roundtables for its 2018 annual meeting that examine how the study and presentation of Liberia has been constructed over the last 50 years and how this study has shaped the development of the country both internally and externally of Liberia. Papers from various academic disciplines or thematic areas addressing the challenges of the current reconstruction, state‐building and economic development, agriculture and food security, arts, and history efforts prior to, during and following the years of violence using a range of scholarly approaches including qualitative, quantitative and critical methods with data‐driven conclusions are welcomed.  The annual meeting will be held at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), in Rochester, NY on April 19 ‐21, 2018. The LSA host is Dr. Danielle Taana Smith, RIT Professor of Sociology & Honors Program Director.

The proposal must include the name, title, and institutional or organizational affiliation of the presenter(s) as well as full contact details of the person or persons submitting the abstract.  All proposals should not exceed 300 words, contain five key words, and sent to Dr. George Gonpu at ggonpu@gmail.com or Dr. Sam Wai Johnson at samwaijohnson@gmail.com  The deadline for submission is February 1.

Conference Registration: $100 ($50 for students) by February 28. There will also be on‐site registration. Presenters and other attendees are required to register. Please make checks payable to the Liberian Studies Association. For more information, contact Jackie Sayegh at jsb25@cornell.edu.

https://www.liberiastudies.com/

Venue: Rochester Institute of Technology April 19-21, 2017, Rochester, NY https://www.liberiastudies.com/

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