000			01432nam a22001697a 4500
005			20250617144728.0
008			250617b |||||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d
020			_a9781555876982 _qpbk
041			_aeng
082			_a966.4 _bHIR
100			_a Hirsch L. John
245			_aSierra leone : diamonds and the struggle for democracy _cJohn L. Hirsch
300			_a175p. _b illustrations, maps ; 23 cm.
520			_aSierra Leone's bitter experience with civil war garnered international attention only after the May 1997 coup, though the conflict between the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and successive governments has raged for at least a decadeagainst the backdrop of more than three decades of progressive state collapse. John Hirsch traces Sierra Leone's downward spiral, drawing on his first-hand experience as U.S. ambassador in Freetown in 1995-1998. Hirsch analyzes the historical, social, and economic contexts of the ongoing struggle, as well as the impacts of regional and international powers. Topics covered include the exploitation of mineral resources in the country, the involvement of private security forces, and the flawed efforts at peace negotiations. Without sustained international intervention, he cautions, it is unlikely that Sierra Leonea microcosm of much of Africa's postCold War experiencecan achieve stability and a renewal of democratic institutions
650			_aCivil wars
942			_cENGLISH
999			_c572611 _d572611