Somalia: Economy Without StateInternational African Institute, 2003 - 206 pages In the wake of the collapse of the Somali government in 1991, a "second" or "informal" economy based on trans-border trade and smuggling is thriving. While focusing primarily on pastoral and agricultural markets, Peter D. Little demonstrates that the Somalis are resilient and opportunistic and that they use their limited resources effectively. While it is true that many Somalis live in the shadow of brutal warlords and lack access to basic health care and education, Little focuses on those who have managed to carve out a productive means of making ends meet under difficult conditions and emphasizes the role of civic culture even when government no longer exists. Exploring questions such as, Does statelessness necessarily mean anarchy and disorder? Do money, international trade, and investment survive without a state? Do pastoralists care about development and social improvement? This book describes the complexity of the Somali situation in the light of international terrorism. |
From inside the book
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... depended ( and still depends ) on Somali cattle for breeding and restocking their commercial herds and , therefore , ranchers often violated their own bans when it suited them . It is a well - known fact in Kenya that even today ...
... depended on animal sales to finance grain needs , food availability decreased from about 37 kg to 8 kg per capita . It was a major blow to already impoverished households of the region who desperately needed food assistance . As the ...
... depended on the state in the 1980s , except for a small clique of elite , while much of the Somali economy was based on pastoralism and unofficial trade . As this book has shown , production and market risks remain high for herders ...
Contents
Introduction to a stateless economy | 2 |
A land of livestock | 22 |
The destruction of ruralurban relations | 45 |
Copyright | |
7 other sections not shown