The Political Implications of the 2014 Epidemiological Crisis in West Africa

Author:

Shipilov A.Yu.

Abstract:

This paper covers the political effects of the Ebola outbreak for the three West African states that suffered most from it: Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. Ambiguous governmental efforts to combat the virus have become the point of reassessment of political elites in these countries against the backdrop of deep ethnic political tensions. Moreover, relations between the national governments and the external forces also involved in dealing with Ebola have likewise seriously exacerbated the internal political situation in the given countries. Overall, the Ebola epidemic has caused significant transformation in the field of public opinion, social movements and electoral behaviour in the mentioned West African states.

Keywords:

Ebola, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, electoral behaviour, ethnic political tensions

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