Sovereignty Without Power: Liberia in the Age of Empires, 1822–1980 by Leigh Gardner (review).

The article reviews *Sovereignty Without Power: Liberia in the Age of Empires, 1822–1980*, a book that examines why Liberia’s long-standing independence did not translate into economic development. The author presents a new economic history based on a unique data set compiled from scarce and fragmented sources, arguing that Liberia’s leaders strategically conceded aspects of economic sovereignty to preserve political autonomy amid internal and external pressures. The book situates Liberia’s experience within a broader global context of states that were sovereign but economically weak, highlighting the complex interactions between Liberian leaders and foreign powers. While the work advances understanding of Liberia’s economic challenges and leadership strategies, it is critiqued for relying on some contested sources and for limited engagement with broader international structural factors affecting Liberia’s sovereignty. [Extracted from the article]