Somalia: An Anti-Thesis of the Western Conception of Failed States?

Abstract

Failed States” do not necessarily produce terrorists as the evidence from Somalia clearly shows. Regrettably, the fight against terrorists often posits a causal nexus between “Failed States” and terrorism. Even though there may be some iota of truth in this claim, it is essentially a parochial as well as reductionist view that does not allow the emergence of locally evolved legitimate authority like the Union of Islamic Courts to deal with issues of security. This paper reviews the concept of failed states and its supposed results of anarchy, conflict and safe-haven for terrorists. Using the US policy towards Somalia as a case study, it points out the flaws in the concept of “Failed States” and argues that these flaws when not fully dealt with, may affect any meaningful global effort to counter terrorism and to deal with human security issues that arise as a state is classified as “failed” or “collapsed”