Abstract

Is peace-building in Somalia possible? Devastated by a US-backed Ethiopian invasion and years of civil war, Somalia has long been without a central government, against this background of violence and instability, Somali academic Afyare Abdi Elmi, explains the multiple dimensions of the conflict, seeking a peace-building consensus.

Somalia is a failed state and a Muslim state, a combination the West assumes means it's a breeding ground for extremism. Coupled with the country's reputation as a piracy hotspot, this combination of internal division and outside interference makes for an intensely hostile landscape. Elmi shows that only by addressing the problem of the statelessness in the country can the long process of peace begin. He highlights clan identities, Islam and other countries in the region as the key elements in any peace-building effort; setting out a path for the international community to follow.
'To the best of my knowledge provides unequalled documentation on the actors in the drama of Somalia'
Samir Amin
'In this excellent, well-researched work, Elmi gets right to the heart of what makes Somalia a failed state and what are the prerequisites for sustainable peace building to take root in that unfortunate war-torn country. This is a must-read for anyone concerned about the plight of the Horn of Africa and the fate of Somalia'
W. Andy Knight, Chair and Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Alberta
'Elmi's contribution is most effective when it examines the Islamic awakening and historicising Islam. ... [the book] provides useful understanding of an important area'
CHOICE
'A timely, topically urgent and well-written book that adds much to the literature on Somali studies'
Ali A. Abdi, University of Alberta