Wide Angle: The State at Work

Running a poor country has never been a tougher job. Civil servants are asked to do the people's work with very little, sometimes with nothing at all. They see to it that the job gets done -- or grinds to a halt. Meet the bureaucrats.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JAN BANNING | JUNE 12, 2006

A little on the side: Maj. Adolph Dalaney reconstructs traffic accidents at the Liberian National Police Headquarters. Because he only makes $20 a month, victims can pay a little extra for a favorable report.

 SUBJECTS: CULTURE