Foreign Policy of Liberia

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Subject: History

Semester: 1

Period: 2

Week: 8

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School Name: ___________________________
Teacher’s Name: _________________________
Subject: History
Grade Level: Grade 12
Date: Week 8
Lesson Duration: 45 minutes
Week & Period: Week 8, Period II
Topic: Foreign Policy of Liberia
Sub-topic: Formulation and Implementation of Foreign Policy

 

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Identify the main actors in the formulation of Liberia’s foreign policy.
2. Explain how foreign policy is formulated and executed in Liberia.
3. Evaluate the roles of the President, Legislature, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ambassadors in shaping Liberia’s international relations.

 

Previous Knowledge

Students already know:

• Liberia’s vital and non-vital interests (Week 7).
• The meaning of foreign policy and why nations have it.
• That Liberia has historic ties with the United States and Africa.

 

Instructional Materials

• Textbook: History of Liberia for Senior Secondary Schools
• Teaching aids: Chart showing flow of foreign policy process (from formulation to execution); pictures of Liberian embassies and UN meetings; short case study on Liberia’s role in ECOWAS peace talks.
• Students’ notebooks and writing materials

 

Lesson Development – ABC Model

A – Anticipation (Warm-up / Starter)

Time: 5–10 minutes

Activity:

• Teacher asks:

1. "Who do you think speaks for Liberia when the country deals with other nations?"
2. "If Liberia wants to join a peacekeeping mission, who makes that decision?"

• Teacher records responses on the board (e.g., “President,” “Legislature,” “Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” etc.).

Teacher’s Role:

• Guide brainstorming session and clarify misconceptions.

Learners’ Role:

• Share existing ideas.
• Respond verbally and engage in quick discussion.

 

B – Building Knowledge (Main Lesson Body)

Time: 25–30 minutes

Teacher’s Role:

• Explain the process of formulation and implementation of foreign policy step by step.
• Provide real-life examples from Liberia’s diplomatic history.
• Ask probing questions at each stage.

Learners’ Activities (Expanded):

• Take notes on the roles of each actor.
• Analyze a case study of Liberia’s role in ECOWAS during the civil war.
• Group work: Create a flow chart showing how a foreign policy idea moves from proposal to execution.

Assessment Checks (During Lesson):

• Oral questions:
• "What is the role of the Legislature in foreign policy?"
• "Why is the President considered the chief architect of Liberia’s foreign policy?"
• Short peer-pair quiz: Each pair writes 2 examples of foreign policy decisions in Liberia and identifies which actor was involved.

 

Notes (Expanded & Detailed):

Actors in Foreign Policy Formulation and Implementation in Liberia

1. President
   • Chief architect of foreign policy.
   • Represents Liberia in international affairs.
   • Signs treaties (e.g., Mano River Union agreements).
2. Legislature (House of Representatives & Senate)
   • Ratifies treaties signed by the President.
   • Approves foreign policy budgets.
   • Provides oversight of foreign relations.
3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
   • Day-to-day management of Liberia’s foreign policy.
   • Advises the President.
   • Organizes embassies and missions abroad.
4. Ambassadors & Diplomats
   • Represent Liberia in foreign countries.
   • Promote national interests (e.g., trade, peace, education).
   • Report back to Monrovia on developments abroad.

Implementation Process:

• Step 1: Policy formulation (President + Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
• Step 2: Legislative approval (ratification, budgeting).
• Step 3: Execution (Ambassadors, Foreign Service).
• Step 4: Monitoring & adjustment.

Example:

• During the Liberian Civil War, President and Ministry of Foreign Affairs worked with ECOWAS; Legislature ratified peace agreements; Ambassadors lobbied for support at the UN.

 

C – Consolidation (Conclusion & Assessment)

Time: 5–10 minutes

Summary:

• Teacher reviews key points:
• Main actors = President, Legislature, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassadors.
• Foreign policy is formulated (ideas, agreements) and implemented (action, representation).

Evaluation Method (Expanded):

• Exit slip/quiz: Students answer briefly:

1. Who is the chief architect of Liberia’s foreign policy?
2. Name two roles of the Legislature in foreign policy.
3. What is the function of an Ambassador?

• Teacher reviews answers, provides quick oral feedback.

 

Assignment (Expanded):

1. Write an essay: “Discuss how the formulation and implementation of foreign policy helped Liberia during the civil war (1989–2003).”
2. Research activity: Find a newspaper article or online source about Liberia’s recent foreign relations (2017–2023). Summarize in 1 page.
3. Draw a chart showing the foreign policy process in Liberia from formulation to execution.

 

Differentiation / Inclusive Strategies

• Struggling Learners: Use guided worksheets with fill-in-the-blanks (e.g., “The ________ is the chief architect of Liberia’s foreign policy”).
• Advanced Learners: Debate: “Is the President too powerful in Liberia’s foreign policy?”
• Students with Disabilities: Provide large-print notes, assign peer-support for group work.

 

Teacher’s Reflection (After Class)

• What worked well? __________________________________________
• What needs improvement? ____________________________________
• Students’ engagement level: □ High □ Medium □ Low
• Next steps: Prepare students for Week 9 – Liberia’s Relations with Europe by linking today’s lesson to historical foreign policy actors in European relations.