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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Lessons in successful Somali governance
Author:Hesse, Brian J.ISNI
Year:2010
Periodical:Journal of Contemporary African Studies (ISSN 0258-9001)
Volume:28
Issue:1
Pages:71-83
Language:English
Geographic terms:Somaliland
Somalia
Subjects:governance
State formation
clans
External link:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02589000903542608
Abstract:This article examines how Somalis in Somaliland and Puntland today have realized a degree of successful governance in the Horn of Africa. When the Republic of Somaliland declared itself independent in 1991, some commentators argued that it was an Isaaq clan State-building project. Yet, just because Somalis belong to the same clan does not mean there cannot be internecine competition or violence as subclans vie for power and resources. The article discusses a number of factors which have contributed to the building of a modest, working State in the northwest of 'Somalia': first, the actions of dictator Siyaad Barre helped forge a sense of Somaliland nationalism to transcend clan divisions; second, when the Barre regime fell, international interventions did not include Somaliland, and this has forced the government to become largely self-reliant; third, there is the way in which Somalis in the Republic of Somaliand have framed their government, particularly with regard to clan considerations. Somalis in Puntland arrived at a point of relative success following a similar trajectory: the process of building sustained governance began around a fairly homogenic 'clan core' - the Darod - and institutionbuilding focused mostly on how to check the power of internecine divisions amongst subclans. In both cases, systems of checks and balances are evolving to entrench consensual politics in chambers of government in lieu of violent confrontation. Bibliogr., notes, sum. [ASC Leiden abstract]
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