How epidemics affect marginalized communities in war-torn countries

Ebola, securitization, and public opinion about the security forces in Liberia

Bibliographic Data

ID11915602
AuthorsTheodora-Ismene Gizelis (0000-0002-3090-6845, University of Essex, corresponding author), Sabrina Karim (0000-0001-7212-6030, Cornell University), Sabrina M Karim
Year2024
Volume179
Pages106587-106587
Publication date2024-03-28
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueWorld Development (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0305-750X • E-ISSN: 1873-5991
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.worlddev.2024.106587
OpenAlexW4393294861
LanguageEN
References cited59

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

Business · Criminology · Development economics · Disease · Ebola virus · Economic growth · Economics · Legitimacy · Political science · Politics · Population · Securitization · Sociology · Demography · Global Security and Public Health · Health and Conflict Studies · Law · Medicine · Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research

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