The Barbel of "Grand Coalition"

By Joe Teh

The attempt of several political parties to form a Grand Coalition in Liberia last weekend did not come as a surprise. Their failure to also have their entire constituents to sign the communiqué establishing the coalition on August 14, was not strange either. It would have surprised us if all eight of the parties making up the Grand Coalition had signed the agreement.
Am I been too pessimistic of opposition political parties’ effort in Liberia? I think not. But if I do, there are more reasons from history that let me do so. Grand coalitions have never held together during my life time in Liberia to be seen as an alternative to the ruling party.
It’s inarguable that the Liberian opposition political parties absolutely want some sort of combined force to defeat the party in power and bring about change, whatever such change is. But this has never proven to be easy especially when some of the opposition leaders see themselves as the de facto candidates and therefore, never wanting to submit to a group interest. So why did they want to join others to form a united front?
In 1986, we saw similar thing. The Grand Coalition then, comprising Unity Party (UP)of Dr. Edward Kesselly; Liberia Unification Party (LUP)of middle school teacher Gabriel Kpolleh and the Liberia Action Party (LAP)of Jackson F. Doe. The current President, Mrs. Sirleaf, was an executive member of LAP. The coalition went to the elections loosely and failed in a disputed elections believed to have been won by LAP.
International criticisms put the coalition in better position to make a lasting impression. However, when the former US Secretary of State, George Shutze, visited Monrovia in Spring of 1986, and asked the opposition what were their concerns, the coalition was divided on issues affecting them.
Similarly in 1997, several oppositions united to oppose the candidate some critics described as the "heartless beast," Charles Taylor, of the National Patriotic Front. Before the elections, scramble for leadership left the newly formed coalition splintered and even remained so after the elections.
It is a dismal fact that Liberian politics is about personalities and selfishness. The result has always been a recipe for dictatorship and inspired current leaders to become repressive. I hope President Johnson-Sirleaf, if re-elected, is not given such chance to change her leadership style from pluralistic to one of a new monster general-in-Chief. But Girl Ellen, you know, is very decent to turn that way.
For political parties that wish to join forces to make a strong case for their electability, they might want to make use of group processes techniques in identifying the norms of the group, build relationships and trust so as move the process forward.
But each one putting themselves above everyone will only see President Johnson-Sirleaf literally unopposed. This time, let oppositions prove that they can offer an alternative choice to what we already know and have.