Somalia, Fragmented Hybrid Governance and Inclusive Development
This chapter examines how Somalia’s fragmented hybrid governance system, combining state and non-state authority, shapes prospects for inclusive development. It argues that working within hybridity, rather than attempting to eliminate it, offers more realistic pathways to improving accountability and development outcomes.
This is an Accepted Manuscript of a book chapter published by Routledge in Santini RH, Polese A and Kevlihan R (eds) Limited Statehood and Informal Governance in the Middle East and Africa pp. 186-204 on 9 October 2020; available online: https://tinyurl.com/y2hzoecp.
Abstract
This chapter considers the hybrid and fragmented nature of governance in Somalia. We treat hybridity as a feature common to all political systems – albeit to different degrees. By hybrid governance, we mean a mix of “traditional” and “modern” systems of political authority. By fragmented, we mean that those involved in governing do not have agreed authority relations nor agreed means of settling disputes over those authority relations. We explore ways in which more coherent governance can be achieved. Governance systems in Somalia do not incorporate strong institutional design and there is disagreement about the legitimacy of transnational governance. In this context, we use the experience of accountability programmes, funded by the UK government, to examine ways in which international actors can contribute to improved coherence. We argue that it is possible to work with non-state actors to increase coherence between non-state and state actors as a means of promoting inclusive development. We use the examples of Al-Shabaab, elders, business leaders, religious leaders and informal settlement gatekeepers to demonstrate our argument. The chapter illustrates the value of taking an agnostic approach on whether hybridity in governance should be promoted or resisted. As our empirical material shows, hybrid governance can have negative and positive implications for accountability and inclusive development, and so a more nuanced and fine-grained approach is preferable to being simply for or against hybrid governance.
Keywords
- Hybrid governance, political settlement theory, fragmented authority, non-state actors, accountability mechanisms, inclusive development, Somalia political economy, limited statehood