SOMALIA IN CONTEXT @somaliaincontext - Tumblr Blog

hi, my names Maryan and I'm currently a student trying to construct a dissertation surrounding the impact of the Cold War on the Ogaden War. I love your blog and it's been helpful in collating some useful information, I was wondering if I could pick your brains about a few things and if you'd be able to point in the direction of some decent Somali history books. Thanks in advance! Maryan.

Hello Maryan,

I would love to help with your dissertation. During the writing of this blog I came across some great sources concerning the role of the Cold War politics and the Ogaden War. I will look through my research and send you links of what I can. I will also go through and try to compile a list of books.

What school are you writing your dissertation for? And what is your specific direction you would like to see it go?

Also, feel free to email me any questions you might have and I will try to help.

-somaliaincontext

VIDEO OF INTEREST: BBC Panorama: Somalia: Land of Anarchy, Part 3 of 3.

It’s the ultimate failed state - a land of war, banditry and piracy. And after Bin Laden’s death, its civil war with Islamist extremists has gained even greater importance to the West. But what is it like to live in the anarchy of Somalia? Reporter Peter Greste goes where no western journalist has been to witness a crisis that threatens millions of lives. He ventures through the streets of Mogadishu, dubbed the most dangerous city in the world, to meet those who attempt to live amid a deadly civil war. Greste visits refugee camps - among them the world’s largest - as well as hospitals and markets along the frontline to witness the fighting at first hand.

VIDEO OF INTEREST: BBC Panorama: Somalia: Land of Anarchy, Part 2 of 3.

It’s the ultimate failed state - a land of war, banditry and piracy. And after Bin Laden’s death, its civil war with Islamist extremists has gained even greater importance to the West. But what is it like to live in the anarchy of Somalia? Reporter Peter Greste goes where no western journalist has been to witness a crisis that threatens millions of lives. He ventures through the streets of Mogadishu, dubbed the most dangerous city in the world, to meet those who attempt to live amid a deadly civil war. Greste visits refugee camps - among them the world’s largest - as well as hospitals and markets along the frontline to witness the fighting at first hand.

VIDEO OF INTEREST: BBC Panorama: Somalia: Land of Anarchy, Part 1 of 3.

It's the ultimate failed state - a land of war, banditry and piracy. And after Bin Laden's death, its civil war with Islamist extremists has gained even greater importance to the West. But what is it like to live in the anarchy of Somalia? Reporter Peter Greste goes where no western journalist has been to witness a crisis that threatens millions of lives. He ventures through the streets of Mogadishu, dubbed the most dangerous city in the world, to meet those who attempt to live amid a deadly civil war. Greste visits refugee camps - among them the world's largest - as well as hospitals and markets along the frontline to witness the fighting at first hand.

VIDEO OF INTEREST: The Forbidden Journey: Somalia.

A fascinating documentary about a journey across the northern Somalia desert to the forbidden Muslim city of Harrar. Photographer Hamish Wilson follows in the footsteps of the Victorian explorer Sir Richard Burton's journey in the winter of 1854, from Zaylac to Harrar.

ARTICLE OF INTEREST: (Abstract) The chaos in Somalia has obscured a remarkable political development in the country's north. Somaliland, the secessionist northwestern slice of Somalia which declared its independence in 1991, has held three consecutive competitive elections since 2001, has a parliament controlled by opposition parties, and boasts a burgeoning economy propelled by the private sector. The key to its success is the integration into politics of traditional Somali models of governance by consultation and consent which provides a contrast to the standard development paradigm in the West.

VIDEO OF INTEREST: The Map Makers: Project Somaliland. Take a trip to Somaliland and travel off the international map. Despite winning independence in a brutal civil war 20 years ago, Somaliland remains to be unrecognized by the international community. Eclipsed by Somalia's ongoing and complex troubles, Somaliland's milestones of restoring law and order, a rich democracy, and a running infrastructure without any aid from external sources tend to go unnoticed.

VIDEO OF INTEREST: BBC News: Places That Don't Exist: Somaliland (May 4th, 2005).

There are almost 200 official countries in the world. But there are dozens more unrecognised nations determined to be independent. Simon Reeve set out to visit several of these lesser-known places.In comparison to the anarchic, gun-filled streets of the Somali capital, Simon travels to the relative safety of the breakaway neighbour, Somaliland. Here he finds mass graves, a foreign minister who delivers babies and some of the oldest cave paintings in the world.

Map of Somaliland 2010.

Dr. Afyare Elmi teaches at the International Affairs Department at Qatar University. He is specialized in international security, conflict and peacebuilding, political Islam and African security and development.

VIDEO OF INTEREST: Al Jazeera English: Inside Story-Somaliland vs Somalia (June 24, 2010).

Amid the chaos that has afflicted Somalia in recent decades, there is an oasis of relative calm that is ignored by the rest of the world. Why has Somaliland succeeded in creating effective governance and a viable economy while mainland Somalia tops the list of failed states with rampant lawlessness and piracy?

Independent Diplomat has a brief overview with further resources of 1991 break away region, Somaliland.

Independent Diplomat (ID), founded in 2004 by former British diplomat Carne Ross, is an innovative venture in the world of international relations. Independent Diplomat's staff comprises experienced former diplomats, international lawyers and other experts in international relations. They have no allegiance or affiliation to other governments or institutions. ID's advice is impartial and disinterested.

ID advises the democratically-elected government of Somaliland on diplomatic strategy. Somaliland is seeking to better integrate itself into the region and to attract more development assistance, trade and investment so as to lift its people out of poverty. It also seeks recognition as an independent state.

Dr. Cawo Abdi is a assistant professor at the University of Minnesota department of Sociology. Current research project is a book manuscript: “Journeys of Hope: Somali Experiences in South Africa, America and the United Arab Emirates.”

From U of MN Website: Journeys of Hope is a comparative study investigating the migration experiences of Somalis in South Africa, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates. Focus on an African Muslim migrant group dispersed around the globe provides an opportunity to pose common migration questions, but in a comparative broader scale. In addition to advancing the scant knowledge about the divergent comparative model, this study’s focus of a Western settlement as well as non-western migrant expands and complicates our understanding of diverse immigration policies as well as the resulting migrant experiences.

VIDEO OF INTEREST: CNN report from Somalia 1993.

VIDEO OF INTEREST: Interview with John McCain on Somalia 1993 (Nov. 7th, 2002).

Peter Robinson of the Hoover Institution interviews Sen. John McCain about his support for a pull-out from Somalia after the Black Hawk Down incident.

VIDEO OF INTEREST: Footage from the streets of Mogadishu during Operation Gothic Serpent (Oct. 3rd, 1993).

VIDEO OF INTEREST: C-SPAN 2 Video Library: AFL-CIO International Affairs Department, "U.N. Intervention in Somalia: Events in Somalia" Mar. 26, 1993.

Ambassador Robert Oakley, President's Special Envoy to Somalia, spoke to reporters about the background of events in Somalia.

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