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Abstract
Somalia is not entirely dysfunctional. Indeed, select parts of the Somali economic, social and political landscape work quite well. Ironically, where the country works best also reflects some of what is most wrong.
Notes
1. The author has previously claimed that ‘Somalia’ as a unified number-seven-shaped country on the northeastern horn of the African continent is mostly a myth. ‘Somalia’ most certainly is a contested concept, even amongst Somalis. Both statements can be supported by, at a minimum, the Republic of Somaliland's declaration of independence and subsequent development, and the Puntland State of Somalia's autonomous charter, proposed constitution and actions, per what is described in this article.
3. A key point in Islamic finance generally is that those with resources are expected to assume most of the risk and to conduct business with a mind to help those needing the resources. By contrast, many Western financial systems are often accused of not caring whether a borrower succeeds or fails – as long as the borrower can make payments in full to the lender. In this light, there is often thought to be a moral imperative lacking in the Western system.
4. The term ‘Web 2.0’ is synonymous with web applications that facilitate interaction, information sharing and user-centred collaboration and design. Wikipedia.org – a Web 2.0 entity, appropriately enough – lists examples of Web 2.0; these include: ‘web-based communities, hosted services, web applications, social-networking sites, video-sharing sites, wikis, blogs, mashups, and folksonomies’. Wikipedia.org's Web 2.0 entry further posts: ‘A Web 2.0 site allows its users to interact with each other as contributors to the website's content, in contrast to non-interactive websites where users are limited to the passive viewing of information that is provided to them’. For more information, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0.
5. Literally maryoolay refers to traditional Somali clothing. In slang, maryoolay can refer to a person lacking intelligence or sophistication.
6. Many African states were products of less-than-organic processes themselves with borders drawn by, say, colonial powers. Some governments of such states fear a fractured Somalia might encourage separatist movements within their own countries.
7. In March 2008, Somaliland President Dahir Rayale Kahin announced by presidential decree the creation of 13 Somaliland regions where there had been only six, and 16 additional districts to an already-existing 41. Under the 2002 Regions and Districts Law, though, such changes cannot come into legal force until approved by both houses of parliament.