1. Introduction
Since the fall of the Barre regime in 1991, Somalia has been the most profound and outstanding example of state failure not only in Africa but the entire world. For almost 20 years Somalia has been lost in a vicious circle which the author of this paper calls “the failure system”. It is a system of mutually reinforcing factors consisting of clan violence and a corresponding history of real or imagined marginalisation, the establishment of war economics, various jihads and last but not least the interference of a multitude of external actors. The question of this bachelor thesis is: What role did external actors take in the process of state failure in Somalia? My hypothesis is, that the Somali state collapse cannot be seen as a purely internal phenomenon but rather as a layered systemic process that has been influenced by external actors on a massive scale. The main purpose of this bachelor thesis is to outline the role of external actors in the Somali state collapse. Albeit the focus of this work is clearly the external dimension of this conflict, we shall not neglect the internal actors and factions in Somalia. Especially after the Ethiopian invasion of 2006 and the begin of the international anti-pirate mission at the Horn of Africa a whole pile of scientific literature has been written on external actors and their strategic motivations in Somalia. But usually these publications only focus on the external actors and their motivations without appropriately addressing internal dynamics. In order to bridge the gap of understanding between the layers of internal and external conflict dimensions, this work tries to create a holistic and systemic big picture view of the Somali state collapse by outlining historical, sociological, internal and external factors alike. To achieve this goal, this work has been divided into three main parts.
The first part will briefly describe the Somali history. I will at first outline the historic developments before 1991 to give an impression of the long-term development of the country. Subsequently the clan structure and its relevance will be addressed to answer the question why such a high internal conflict potential could arise in Somalia despite far reaching ethnic, cultural, religious and lingual homogeneity. Afterwards the historic events in the state-failure period from 1991-2009 will be described. The main sources for this
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The history of the Somali conflict
2.1 Somali history before 1991
2.2 Digression: The Somali clan system
2.3 Somali history since 1991
3. Important internal actors and factions in Somalia
3.1 The Transitional Federal Government and allied groups
3.2 Autonomous regions
3.3 Warlords and anti-government groups
4. External actors in the Somali conflict
4.1 Theoretical perspectives: The internationalisation of internal conflicts
4.2 Neighbouring States
4.2.1. Ethiopia
4.2.2. Eritrea
4.2.3. Djibouti
4.2.4. Kenya
4.3 Global actors
4.3.1. United States
4.3.2. European States
4.3.3. Arab League states
4.4 International Organisations
4.4.1. African Union
4.4.2. United Nations
4.4.3. IGAD
4.5 Non-state external actors
4.6 The Somali diaspora
5. Conclusion
6. Literature
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this thesis is to examine the role of external actors in the collapse of the Somali state, arguing that the collapse is not merely an internal phenomenon but a systemic process exacerbated by massive external influence.
- The historical and sociological origins of the Somali conflict and clan dynamics.
- The interaction between internal factions and various external state and non-state actors.
- The theoretical framework of conflict internationalisation as applied to the Somali context.
- The motivations and strategies of neighbouring states, global powers, and international organisations.
- The impact of war economies and the Somali diaspora on the sustainability of the conflict.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1 Theoretical perspectives: The internationalisation of internal conflicts
In order to highlight a theoretical perspective on why external actors intervene in internal political struggles, I will briefly present an analytical framework of conflict internationalisation. Here I will use the work of Michael E. Brown, who is Associate Director of the International Security Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government , Harvard University (cf. Brown 1996; 643).
One of the premises of this work is the assumption that conflicts in general and the Somalia conflict in particular create a wide network of security implications on many levels – from the sub-regional to the global sphere. As diverse as the implications are usually the causes of conflict, that seldom can be reduced one single fact. Brown identifies four underlying and proximate causes of internal conflict. These causes are sub-divided as “Structural Factors, Political Factors, Economic/Social Factors and Cultural/Perceptual Factors” (Brown 1996; 577). Examples for Structural Factors are weak statehood, intra-state security concerns and ethnic geography (cf. Brown 1996; 577). All these factors can be found in Somalia beginning with the decline of the Barre regime. The influence of the state has traditionally been weak in Somalia, which has also fostered intra-state security issues especially in regard to Barres anti-clan policy. Ethnic geography is only of peripheral relevance as Somalia as ethnically homogeneous, but one can easily find a clan geography.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: Defines the thesis as an analysis of the "failure system" in Somalia, outlining the hypothesis that state collapse is a systemic process driven by both internal and external factors.
2. The history of the Somali conflict: Provides historical context on Somalia before and after 1991, with a focus on the role of the clan system in shaping conflict dynamics.
3. Important internal actors and factions in Somalia: Evaluates the Transitional Federal Government, the autonomous regions of Somaliland and Puntland, and various anti-government militant groups.
4. External actors in the Somali conflict: Analyzes the roles of neighbouring states, global actors, international organisations, and non-state actors in influencing the conflict.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes findings, emphasizing the destructive nature of external interventions and suggesting that a federal solution might mitigate the power struggle.
6. Literature: Lists the comprehensive bibliographic resources used to conduct the research.
Keywords
Somalia, state collapse, external actors, clan system, Transitional Federal Government, Ethiopia, Eritrea, proxy war, al-Shabaab, conflict internationalisation, humanitarian intervention, geopolitical interests, security dilemma, war economy, diaspora.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this thesis?
The work examines the collapse of the Somali state, specifically investigating how external actors have contributed to and influenced this systemic failure.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The research explores history, sociological clan structures, regional power politics, international relations, and the political economy of the ongoing civil war.
What is the central research question?
The thesis asks what role external actors have played in the process of state failure in Somalia.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author utilizes a systemic analysis approach, drawing upon international relations theory—specifically Michael Brown's framework on conflict internationalisation—to categorize and analyze various interventions.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body details the historical background of the conflict, the political landscape of internal Somali factions, and an extensive evaluation of external actors including neighbouring states, global powers, and international organizations.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include state failure, clan-based conflict, external proxy wars, geopolitical interests in the Horn of Africa, and the impact of regional security concerns on the Somali peace process.
How does the author view the role of Somaliland and Puntland?
The author identifies these regions as "islands of stability" that have managed to establish rudimentary state-like structures despite lacking formal international recognition.
Why does the author consider the Ethiopia-Eritrea rivalry significant?
The rivalry is viewed as a major systemic determinant of the Somali conflict, as both nations utilize various Somali factions as proxies to wage war against each other, thereby obstructing peace efforts.
What is the "failure system" as described by the author?
It is defined as a system of mutually reinforcing factors, including clan violence, war economics, historical marginalisation, and external interference that traps Somalia in a cycle of instability.
- Quote paper
- Marcel Lossi (Author), 2009, The Failure System - The role of external actors in the Somali state collapse, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/182468
