Filling the political void : the mechanisms of coping in stateless Somalia

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Somalia continues to intrigue scholars and policy-makers around the world, due to thefact that it is enduring what few others have, total state collapse. Not only does thesituation defy easy explanation, the degree of state failure is unprecedented. Aftermore than two decades without a functioning central authority, Somalia is now thelongest-running instance of state collapse in postcolonial history.While researching and understanding state weakness and state failure is critical, it isuseless unless combined with devising ways to prevent state failure in the future.Somalia provides policy makers with a unique opportunity to study the consequencesof state collapse. Understanding the complex dynamics of state weakness and statecollapse could ultimately help save the lives of thousands of people on the Africancontinent.This study focuses on the mechanisms of coping by analysing the actors who havestepped up to fill the political vacuum left behind by the collapsing state. The roleplayed by both state and non-state actors will be explored throughout this study. As itis not possible to address every actor who has played a part in Somalia since theimplosion of the state in 1991, only the three most important internal and externalactors will be analysed.The role played by the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) will bediscussed at length. The contributions made by neighbouring country Ethiopia, willalso be investigated. Although the contributions and the impact of these externalactors have in some instances led to undesired results, it does not change the fact thatthese actors attempted to fill the void in Somalia.Non-state actors positions within Somalia will also be examined in detailed. Theseactors include regional authorities, the role of Al-Shabaab, as well as the IslamicCourts Union. The study does not excuse the behaviour of these actors but ratherdiscusses the rise of these organizations in light of the collapsing state and theposition which they have taken up in Somalia to fill the political void. Lastly the roleof the 'Somali coast guards also known as the Somali pirates, will be discussed.ipti

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University