Motoring from War to Peace

Supporting Social Reintegration of Liberia’s Conflict Affected Youth through Nationwide Counter-Stigma Efforts

Investigating the disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration of those who have been involved in war, a researcher from the School of International Relations has been working in Liberia with ex-combatant youth, demobilised soldiers, and conflict-affected youth who are engaged in the commercial motorcycling transport sector there.

The research shows how thousands of Liberia’s young people are using motorcycling not just to survive but to generate economic and educational opportunities and build social relationships that are essential to peace and reintegration. The research has led to the Commercial Motorcyclists Union of Liberia to identify that the key research findings helped to counter the stigmatisation and marginalisation of post-war youth in Liberia and to a commissioned policy report for the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations to inform future sustainable reintegration support.