The Somali Catastrophe: Explanation and Implications

Abstract

Somalia has a new global reputation — the world’s stereotype of abject, total and violent failure. This image is the consequence of the implosions of early 1991, subsequent events of mutual predation and mass starvation, failed international intervention, and a continuing absence of even the rudiments of viable national institutions. Given up on as an unsalvageable people and place, popular as well as official interest in Somalia has all but evaporated. What references to Somalia that are made, then, are usually uttered with a sense of combined foreboding and despair. Hence, a once proud people, grudgingly admired for their dignity and self-respect, are now either reduced to existing in the foul debris of their socio-economic and cultural ruin, or, for those who can flee, condemned to the status of scruffy refugees in almost every corner of the world.⁴

Telling a Somali to kill is like telling a dog to lick his balls — the problem is getting him to stop.²

Dagaal Gaalka, Hadana Gartiisa Sii. (Fight the infidel yet give him his due.)³

I would like to thank Mary Vincent Franco and Sarah Puro, of International Studies and Programming, for their help in the research and word processing of this chapter.