Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Somalia continues to intrigue scholars and policy-makers around the world, due to the
fact that it is enduring what few others have, total state collapse. Not only does the
situation defy easy explanation, the degree of state failure is unprecedented. After
more than two decades without a functioning central authority, Somalia is now the
longest-running instance of state collapse in postcolonial history.
While researching and understanding state weakness and state failure is critical, it is
useless unless combined with devising ways to prevent state failure in the future.
Somalia provides policy makers with a unique opportunity to study the consequences
of state collapse. Understanding the complex dynamics of state weakness and state
collapse could ultimately help save the lives of thousands of people on the African
continent.
This study focuses on the mechanisms of coping by analysing the actors who have
stepped up to fill the political vacuum left behind by the collapsing state. The role
played by both state and non-state actors will be explored throughout this study. As it
is not possible to address every actor who has played a part in Somalia since the
implosion of the state in 1991, only the three most important internal and external
actors will be analysed.
The role played by the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) will be
discussed at length. The contributions made by neighbouring country Ethiopia, will
also be investigated. Although the contributions and the impact of these external
actors have in some instances led to undesired results, it does not change the fact that
these actors attempted to fill the void in Somalia.
Non-state actors positions within Somalia will also be examined in detailed. These
actors include regional authorities, the role of Al-Shabaab, as well as the Islamic
Courts Union. The study does not excuse the behaviour of these actors but rather
discusses the rise of these organizations in light of the collapsing state and the
position which they have taken up in Somalia to fill the political void. Lastly the role
of the “Somali coast guards” also known as the Somali pirates, will be discussed.ipti / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Somalië bly die brandpunt van belangstelling vir geleerdes en beleidmakers dwarsoor
die wêreld. Die hoofrede hiervoor is dat hierdie land ervaar het wat min ander lande
het, naamlik algehele ineenstorting van die staat en bestuur. ‘n Maklike
verduideliking of vereenvoudiging van die situasie is daar nie, want die
ongeëwenaarde ineenstorting van stuktuur en staat, van Somalië is uniek. Twee
dekades later is hierdie land nogsteeds sonder ‘n funksioneerende gesetelde
staatsgesag. Hierdie tydperk is die langste voorbeeld van staatsineenstorting sonder
herstel in post-koloniale geskiedenis.
Navorsing en insig in elke staat se inherente swakhede en probleme help om mislukte
bestuur te voorspel en te voorkom. Hierdie inligting moet korrek geimplimenteer en
geinterpreteer word om krissise en mislukkings binne staatsbestel te verhoed. Somalië
bied beleidmakers ‘n unieke geleentheid om die gevolge van totale staatsineenstorting
te bestudeer en daaruit te leer. Net deur middel van begrip vir die komplekse
dinamika van ‘n staat wat ineenstort en deur wanbestuur verswak word, sal daar
uikoms vir duisende mense op hierdie vasteland kom. Sodoende sal ontelbare lewens
in Afrika gered kan word.
Hierdie studie analiseer die tegnieke van aanpassing, gebruik deur die rolspelers wat
die politieke vakuum vul, wat deur die staatineenstorting nagelaat is. Die ondersoek
fokus ook op die impak en effekte van beide interne en eksterne rolspelers. Aangesien
dit onmoontlik is om die aandeel wat elke rolspeler sedert die ineenstorting van
Somalië in 1991 gehad het te bestudeer, word net die drie belangrikste interne en
eksterne rolspelers bespreek.
Die Verenigde Nasies (VN), Afrika Unie (AU) en die buurland Ethiopië se bydraes
sal ondersoek word. Alhoewel die bydraes en insette van hierdie eksterne rolspelers
soms tot ongewenste resultate gelei het, bly die feit staan dat hulle probeer het om die
leemtes in Somalië te vul.
Ander belangrike rolspelers wat nie deel van die plaaslike regering is nie, sal ook in
diepte bespreek word. Hierdie invloede binne Somalië sluit streeksowerhede in, asook
die rol van Al Shabaab en die Islamitiese Howe Unie. Die studie verskoon nie die gedrag van die rolspelers nie, maar bespreek eerder die opkoms van hierdie
organisasies. Dit word alles gesien in die lig van die ineenstorting van die staat en die
posisie wat hulle in Somalië geneem het om mag te bekom en die politieke leemte te
vul. Ten slotte word die omstrede rol van die "Somaliese kuswagte", anders bekend as
Somaliese seerowers, bespreek.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/17813 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Lubbe, Lesley |
| Contributors | Swart, Gerrie, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | x, 84 p. : col. map |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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