SHADOW GOVERNANCE IN LIBERIA’S PUBLIC SECTOR: INFORMAL NETWORKS AND THE LIMITS OF INSTITUTIONAL REFORM
Keywords:
Shadow governance, informal institutions, Liberia, public sector reform, patronage networks, fragile states.Abstract
Public administration reform in Liberia has predominantly focused on corruption, decentralization, and post-conflict reconstruction. However, limited scholarly attention has been paid to the phenomenon of shadow governance—the informal systems of influence that operate alongside formal bureaucratic institutions. This study examines how informal patronage networks, kinship alliances, political loyalty systems, and elite bargaining structures shape administrative outcomes in Liberia. Using a qualitative case study methodology, the research analyzes selected Liberian public institutions between 2006 and 2023. Findings suggest that shadow governance significantly influences recruitment, procurement processes, and policy implementation, often-overriding formal institutional frameworks. The study proposes an Integrated Institutional Alignment Framework (IIAF) for managing informal power structures within fragile governance systems. The findings contribute to post-conflict public administration theory and offer policy recommendations for strengthening institutional legitimacy in Liberia.
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