Politics: A major Conduit to Upward Social Mobility within Liberia the Liberian Society

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue VII, July 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

Politics: A major Conduit to Upward Social Mobility within Liberia the Liberian Society

Ambrues Monboe Nebo Sr.
Department of Political Science/Sociology, University of Liberia/African Methodist Episcopal University

Abstract: From qualitative analysis, this article examines politics as the major conduit to social mobility in Liberia’s social stratification system. It argues that none of the traditional determinants of social stratification (income, wealth, education, power, prestige) are strong enough to influence social mobility at the apex of the social ladder in Liberia.
Empirically, history has proven that majority of the elites arouse to the upper class through politics conceptualized as political positions characterized by elections and appointments.
This article also argues that politics is an independent variable that influences income, wealth, power, and prestige simply because of the lucrative salaries and incentives associated with political positions in Liberia. For this reason, it is argued that the desire of those entering into politics especially in contemporary Liberia is to acquire wealth, not necessarily to serve the best interest of the state.

Key words: Education, Income, Politics, Power, Prestige Social Mobility, Social Ladder, Social Stratification system, Wealth

I. INTRODUCTION

Every society is characterized by the trends of observed social phenomena. These phenomena that are fascinating include multifaceted social, economic, and political social facts integral to the existence of society. The Liberian society is replete with these multifaceted phenomena that continued to shape its direction.
One of the observed social phenomena is social mobility introduced by the Russian-born American sociologist and political activist Pitirim Sorokin. It connotes individuals’ opportunities for progression within the social hierarchy (Nunn, Johnson, Monro, Bickerstaffe, Kelsey, 2007). Or, better put it, movement alone the social ladder in society.
In most societies, there are certain determinants, or variables that influence the ability for people to climb the social ladder discuss subsequently. It includes; education, family background, occupation, social class, individual factor, income and wealth, power, etc.
In the context of the Liberian society, it is observed that unlike other societies, politics is the major determinant to social mobility.
Against this premise, this qualitative research meticulously explore how politics is used as the major conduit to upward social mobility in Liberia. Put simple, it explains how people advance to the apex of the social ladder through politics.
Mindful of how the Liberian society is highly polarized coupled with the kind of insinuation people make, or how people impute reasonings to issues, this article clarifies that

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