Assessing Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s Presidency: Effects on Substantive Representation in Liberia

Abstract

In 2005, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became the first female elected head of state in Africa. In November 2011, she was reelected with over 90 percent of the vote after her main opponent Winston Tubman boycotted the second round of elections. This chapter examines how Liberian cultural and institutional structures affected Johnson Sirleaf’s campaigns and her time in office. The chapter also explores how Johnson Sirleaf has influenced Liberia’s gender culture and its institutional framework and to what extent she has achieved the policy goals established during her two campaigns. The first section focuses on Liberia’s gender culture. It is based on the analysis of Liberian media representations of Johnson Sirleaf and Tubman in the month prior to the second round elections. The second section focuses on Liberia’s political institutions, exploring how Liberia’s political system—characterized by a strong presidency and a weak party system—created opportunities and challenges for Johnson Sirleaf.