Type of Document Dissertation Author Dillon, Etrenda Christine URN etd-12022007-212951 Title The Role of Education in the Rise and Fall of Americo-Liberians in Liberia, West Africa (1980) Degree Ph.D. Department Educational Policy Studies Advisory Committee
Advisor Name Title Miles Anthony Irving, Ph.D. Committee Chair Daphne Greenberg, Ph.D. Committee Member Joyce E. King, Ph.D. Committee Member Rhina Fernandes Williams, Ph.D. Committee Member Susan Crim McClendon, Ph.D. Committee Member Keywords
- identity formation
- educational attainment
Date of Defense 2007-10-17 Availability unrestricted Abstract Education has proven to be a powerful tool. Higher education in particular has been and continues to be utilized in various ways around the world and has been instrumental in the rise of societies including Americo-Liberian society in Liberia, West Africa. This study investigates how education has been instrumental in the formation of identity for Americo-Liberians (descendants of historically oppressed groups), demonstrates the relationship that existed between education attainment and social stratification within their system, and uncovers the socialization process that existed within the Americo-Liberian system of education. A critical analysis of social structure and history was undertaken to demonstrate how a mythical norm and cultural capital were key in both the identity formation and destruction of the Americo-Liberian population in Liberia, West Africa. Other theoretical frameworks, in particular "othering" were utilized throughout this dissertation to further demonstrate the rise of Americo-Liberians through their employment of a mythical norm and cultural capital, which ultimately led to their demise. A historical case study method was utilized to uncover the cultural capital of the preferred upper class and political elite, known as Americo-Liberians, which was deeply embedded within their system of education. In all, the system that was set up to ensure their privilege led to their demise and the complete destruction of the country as a whole.Files
Filename Size Approximate Download Time (Hours:Minutes:Seconds)
28.8 Modem 56K Modem ISDN (64 Kb) ISDN (128 Kb) Higher-speed Access dillon_etrenda_c_200708_phd[1].pdf 552.80 Kb 00:02:33 00:01:18 00:01:09 00:00:34 00:00:02