The Role of Women in Economic Transformation: Market Women in Sierra Leone.

yesVarious research has concluded that economic life did not die out during the conflict in Sierra Leone, but took on different forms. Different stakeholders at all levels were engaged in economic activities during the war. The specific roles of women in the shadow economy are under-researched with the result that most analysis and policy-options are inadequate. While some of Sierra Leone¿s Market Women strategically participated in war economies to `do well out of war¿, most did so out of the need to survive. With the end of the war, market women have been able to make a successful transformation to peace economies through micro-credit assistance

The Social Structure of the Market for Force

Over the past two decades, governments have increasingly contracted private military and security companies (PMSCs) to support military operations in conflicts. However, many observers have argued that such companies are ‘greedy market actors’ or ‘reckless mercenaries’ and their level of performance very poor. A minority has defended them as security professionals. If market competition is present, the level of performance is high and positive contributions to the client’s military operation can be expected. However, neither PMSC opponents nor proponents can account for the variance in the level of performance in three crucial cases – Sierra Leone, Iraq, and Afghanistan. This article argues that different market structures explain this variance. At least three ideal configurations exist: collaborative, competitive, and rival structures. These structures influence the level of performance. PMSC performance levels are expected to decrease from the first configuration, being positive, to the last, being negative

Déstabiliser la Guinée : les diamants, Charles Taylor et la possibilité d'une catastrophe humanitaire de plus grande envergure

Version anglaise disponible dans la Bibliothèque numérique du CRDI : Destabilizing Guinea : diamonds, Charles Taylor and the potential for wider humanitarian catastroph

Destabilizing Guinea : diamonds, Charles Taylor and the potential for wider humanitarian catastrophe

French version available in IDRC Digital Library: Déstabiliser la Guinée : les diamants, Charles Taylor et la possibilité d'une catastrophe humanitaire de plus grande envergur