It is evident with the rivalry between Doe and Quiwonkpa. They are a perfect example of ethnic clashes within the already wars that were raging within Liberia. The chapter ends with the election of Taylor to president of Liberia in 1997 and all the sacrifices that were made just so he could come into power.
The next chapter is devoted entirely to Chester A. Crocker, the top Africa official in Ronald Reagan's State Department, casting him as a distant version of the African "Big Man," on whom many lives depended. Crocker is portrayed as a lover of Africa and someone that has a complete interest into the continent and all that has to go with it. However, it also shows how the corruption of the government has turned him into someone that only cares about the political, economical and social gains of leaving these countries in the cold. "I would never in a million years tell you I was seeking what was in the best interests of Liberia," Crocker tells Berkeley at one point, about how the United States befriended one depressing regime after another in Liberia. "I was protecting the interests of Washington." (p74) .
I believe that from the impression that Berkeley was putting forth, that the specific countries that were being helped could very well have been picked up and put back together again. It almost seems that the US left almost as soon as that was trying to be done again, which lead to total chaos again. For an American , Berkeley portrays the western influence upon these countries to almost be detrimental to their survival. As though the US is offering them a hand to help them up and then when Liberia goes to grab it, the US withdraws and laughs in their face.
The next chapters go through the important players in the different countries and how they helped or failed their respective countries. Berkeley also really goes into physical detail with the " Big Men" to give the reader a personal connection with them.