It is often suggested that Somalia is a "libertarian" paradise with regard to it statelessness and an example of what would result absent a strong state and central government.
The questions of Somalia should be examined further if we are to learn anything from what's happened in this country in the past 20 years.
While Somalia definitely suffers from problems of warring warlords, there's more to the entire story than this. It's also important to be careful about assuming the cause of this infighting.
But let's look a little deeper at Somalia. Let's begin with a summary from the CIA Factbook on the economy:
So, while it has it's problems and it's not all a bed of roses, things are entirely without promise and improvement from the stone ages that the previous government and dictator plunged this country and its people into. In fact they appear to be slowly climbing out of the pit created by this previous situation.
But there's more:
Here's a more detailed paper on Somalia.
The BBC has written a reasonably balanced article on this recently: "Somalia: 20 years of anarchy"
And there's some interesting data showing that life expectancy is increasing, infant mortality is decreasing, death rates are decreasing, adult literacy is increasing.
One recurring theme we see is that much of the warring is a result of outsiders (like the US and UN) directly and indirectly (e.g., US-sponsored Ethiopian invasion) trying to impose control on the country.
But here are some snippets of interest:
Is it a paradise? No. Is it improving absent a central government? It seems so? Is the infighting simply due to a lack of a government? Harder to say. Arguments both ways but what's clear is that outside governments (who seem to know no other language than force) are a key instigator here. Perhaps most importantly one must consider the starting point and the previous conditions when doing analysis vs. some mythical absolute standard. This is especially important when the implication is that the US would devolve into what Somalia is today absent the ginormous government apparatus we currently live under. And given the fact is that we are warned of totally anarchy in the US when federal spending "cuts" (i.e., cuts in the rate of increase) are approaching 5-10%, we ought to cast a skeptical eye toward Somalian comparisons of that kind.
Anyway...thought this would be an interesting topic for discussion.
The questions of Somalia should be examined further if we are to learn anything from what's happened in this country in the past 20 years.
While Somalia definitely suffers from problems of warring warlords, there's more to the entire story than this. It's also important to be careful about assuming the cause of this infighting.
But let's look a little deeper at Somalia. Let's begin with a summary from the CIA Factbook on the economy:
Quote:
Despite the lack of effective national governance, Somalia has maintained a healthy informal economy, largely based on livestock, remittance/money transfer companies, and telecommunications. Agriculture is the most important sector with livestock normally accounting for about 40% of GDP and more than 50% of export earnings. Nomads and semi-pastoralists, who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the population. Livestock, hides, fish, charcoal, and bananas are Somalia's principal exports, while sugar, sorghum, corn, qat, and machined goods are the principal imports. Somalia's small industrial sector, based on the processing of agricultural products, has largely been looted and the machinery sold as scrap metal. Somalia's service sector also has grown. Telecommunication firms provide wireless services in most major cities and offer the lowest international call rates on the continent. In the absence of a formal banking sector, money transfer/remittance services have sprouted throughout the country, handling up to $1.6 billion in remittances annually. Mogadishu's main market offers a variety of goods from food to the newest electronic gadgets. Hotels continue to operate and are supported with private-security militias. Due to armed attacks on and threats to humanitarian aid workers, the World Food Programme partially suspended its operations in southern Somalia in early January 2010 pending improvement in the security situation. Somalia's arrears to the IMF have continued to grow.
So, while it has it's problems and it's not all a bed of roses, things are entirely without promise and improvement from the stone ages that the previous government and dictator plunged this country and its people into. In fact they appear to be slowly climbing out of the pit created by this previous situation.
But there's more:
Quote:
Once the U.N. withdrew, a relative peace developed in Somalia. Crime and violence persisted, but not at the levels seen during the civil war. Various clan elders, warlords, and Islamic courts had power, but none were strong enough to impose themselves as the new government, and most of the fighting stopped.
Once this relative peace was achieved, the Somalis began to order their affairs and adapt institutions to provide governance, even though they lacked a government. Most of the order was provided by Somalia’s customary legal code, the Xeer, which was interpreted by clan elders and informally enforced, mainly through ostracism. Islamic courts existed, but most had little influence. Islamic law was reserved mostly for matters of divorce and inheritance, while the common law covered everything else.
Although Somalia is still poor, the ordered anarchy that has existed since the mid–1990s has actually translated into improved living standards. In conducting research for a new study comparing Somalia’s economy relative to 42 other African countries, my coauthors and I examined 13 different measures, including life expectancy, immunization and disease rates, access to various telecommunications, and access to water/sanitation.
In 2005, Somalia ranked in the top 50 percent in six of our 13 measures, and ranked near the bottom in only three: infant mortality, immunization rates, and access to improved water sources. This compares favorably with circumstances in 1990, when Somalia last had a government and was ranked in the bottom 50 percent for all seven of the measures for which we had that year’s data: death rate, infant mortality, life expectancy, main telephone lines, tuberculosis, and immunization for measles and DTP. Furthermore, we have found that during the last years of Somalia’s government, 1985 to 1990, their performance was deteriorating compared to other African nations as their relative ranking fell in five of these measures. Since their government’s collapse, Somalia has seen its relative ranking improve in four of these measures and deteriorate in only one: infant mortality.
Perhaps most impressive is Somalia’s change in life expectancy. During the last five years of government rule, life expectancy fell by two years but since state collapse, it actually has increased by five years.
Once this relative peace was achieved, the Somalis began to order their affairs and adapt institutions to provide governance, even though they lacked a government. Most of the order was provided by Somalia’s customary legal code, the Xeer, which was interpreted by clan elders and informally enforced, mainly through ostracism. Islamic courts existed, but most had little influence. Islamic law was reserved mostly for matters of divorce and inheritance, while the common law covered everything else.
Although Somalia is still poor, the ordered anarchy that has existed since the mid–1990s has actually translated into improved living standards. In conducting research for a new study comparing Somalia’s economy relative to 42 other African countries, my coauthors and I examined 13 different measures, including life expectancy, immunization and disease rates, access to various telecommunications, and access to water/sanitation.
In 2005, Somalia ranked in the top 50 percent in six of our 13 measures, and ranked near the bottom in only three: infant mortality, immunization rates, and access to improved water sources. This compares favorably with circumstances in 1990, when Somalia last had a government and was ranked in the bottom 50 percent for all seven of the measures for which we had that year’s data: death rate, infant mortality, life expectancy, main telephone lines, tuberculosis, and immunization for measles and DTP. Furthermore, we have found that during the last years of Somalia’s government, 1985 to 1990, their performance was deteriorating compared to other African nations as their relative ranking fell in five of these measures. Since their government’s collapse, Somalia has seen its relative ranking improve in four of these measures and deteriorate in only one: infant mortality.
Perhaps most impressive is Somalia’s change in life expectancy. During the last five years of government rule, life expectancy fell by two years but since state collapse, it actually has increased by five years.
Here's a more detailed paper on Somalia.
The BBC has written a reasonably balanced article on this recently: "Somalia: 20 years of anarchy"
And there's some interesting data showing that life expectancy is increasing, infant mortality is decreasing, death rates are decreasing, adult literacy is increasing.
One recurring theme we see is that much of the warring is a result of outsiders (like the US and UN) directly and indirectly (e.g., US-sponsored Ethiopian invasion) trying to impose control on the country.
But here are some snippets of interest:
Quote:
The north has been relatively peaceful, especially the former British-run territory, Somaliland. Although its independence is not internationally recognised, it runs democratic elections and last year saw a peaceful transfer of power - still a rarity for Africa.
Quote:
Remarkably for a country which has suffered two decades of conflict, living standards have slowly improved.
Somalia remains poor in relation to most African countries, but its economy and its people have found ways to get by without a government.
Somalia's GDP has risen steadily throughout the last two decades, as has its life expectancy. And while neighbouring countries have been hit hard by the HIV/Aids epidemic, Somalia has largely escaped.
Although health facilities remain poor in most regions, the chances of a newborn child surviving to its first birthday have actually increased slightly since 1991.
Somalia remains poor in relation to most African countries, but its economy and its people have found ways to get by without a government.
Somalia's GDP has risen steadily throughout the last two decades, as has its life expectancy. And while neighbouring countries have been hit hard by the HIV/Aids epidemic, Somalia has largely escaped.
Although health facilities remain poor in most regions, the chances of a newborn child surviving to its first birthday have actually increased slightly since 1991.
Is it a paradise? No. Is it improving absent a central government? It seems so? Is the infighting simply due to a lack of a government? Harder to say. Arguments both ways but what's clear is that outside governments (who seem to know no other language than force) are a key instigator here. Perhaps most importantly one must consider the starting point and the previous conditions when doing analysis vs. some mythical absolute standard. This is especially important when the implication is that the US would devolve into what Somalia is today absent the ginormous government apparatus we currently live under. And given the fact is that we are warned of totally anarchy in the US when federal spending "cuts" (i.e., cuts in the rate of increase) are approaching 5-10%, we ought to cast a skeptical eye toward Somalian comparisons of that kind.
Anyway...thought this would be an interesting topic for discussion.
The state is nothing more than a criminal gang writ large.
The state is nothing more than a criminal gang writ large.
