Abstract
Recent studies on federalism in Africa in comparative perspective suggest that African cases of federalism converge with the classical conceptions of federalism in terms of form and design, while diverging from those classical conceptions in terms of political regime, as well as eclectic innovations related to form and design. Federalism has not been popular at all in post-colonial Africa, where exists a small number of relatively recent examples, in which federalization of formerly unitary states is a process that is typically running within a larger conflict resolution process. This process is aimed at addressing ethnonational diversity and territorial integrity and which is driven by the relative powers of ethnonational groups and their political agendas. Hence, concepts like post-conflict federalism or holding-together federalism are conveniently applicable to these cases. This article will try to contribute to the developing body of comparative research on African federalism with a brief case study on the emerging federalism in post-conflict Somalia that has been rebuilt for more than two decades by the combined efforts of the Somalis and the international peace support.
Keywords
References
- ● Alfred Stepan, “Federalism and democracy: Beyond the US model”, Theories of Federalism: A reader, Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2005. 255-268.
- ● Ali Yassin Sheikh Ali, Abdinor Hassan Dahir, and Zahra Daud Hersi, “Federalism in post- conflict states: Assessing Somalia’s challenges and the way forward”, Perspectives on Federalism, 11(2) 2019, pp. 54-94.
- ● Aljazeera News, 07.02.2017, http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2017/02/explaining-somali- electionprocess170207102621524.html), Accessed: 02.01.2018
- ● Antonios Kouroutakis, “Note on the Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia”, IConnectBlog, 2013, available at http://www.iconnectblog.com/2013/09/note-on-the-provisional-constitution-of-somalia/ . Accessed: 22.09.2021.
- ● Berihun Adugna Gebeye, “Federal Theory and Federalism in Africa”, VRÜ Verfassung und Recht in Übersee, 53 (2) 2020, pp. 95-115.
- ● Bongartz, Maria, “The civil war in Somalia: Its genesis and dynamics”, Nordiska afrikainstitutet, 1991.
Abstract
Recent studies on federalism in Africa in comparative perspective suggest that African cases of federalism converge with the classical conceptions of federalism in terms of form and design, while diverging from those classical conceptions in terms of political regime, as well as eclectic innovations related to form and design. Federalism has not been popular at all in post-colonial Africa, where exists a small number of relatively recent examples, in which federalization of formerly unitary states is a process that is typically running within a larger conflict resolution process. This process is aimed at addressing ethnonational diversity and territorial integrity and which is driven by the relative powers of ethnonational groups and their political agendas. Hence, concepts like post-conflict federalism or holding-together federalism are conveniently applicable to these cases. This article will try to contribute to the developing body of comparative research on African federalism with a brief case study on the emerging federalism in post-conflict Somalia that has been rebuilt for more than two decades by the combined efforts of the Somalis and the international peace support.
Keywords
Post-unitary federalism Federalization process Power sharing International peace support Africa Somalia
References
- ● Alfred Stepan, “Federalism and democracy: Beyond the US model”, Theories of Federalism: A reader, Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2005. 255-268.
- ● Ali Yassin Sheikh Ali, Abdinor Hassan Dahir, and Zahra Daud Hersi, “Federalism in post- conflict states: Assessing Somalia’s challenges and the way forward”, Perspectives on Federalism, 11(2) 2019, pp. 54-94.
- ● Aljazeera News, 07.02.2017, http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2017/02/explaining-somali- electionprocess170207102621524.html), Accessed: 02.01.2018
- ● Antonios Kouroutakis, “Note on the Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia”, IConnectBlog, 2013, available at http://www.iconnectblog.com/2013/09/note-on-the-provisional-constitution-of-somalia/ . Accessed: 22.09.2021.
- ● Berihun Adugna Gebeye, “Federal Theory and Federalism in Africa”, VRÜ Verfassung und Recht in Übersee, 53 (2) 2020, pp. 95-115.
- ● Bongartz, Maria, “The civil war in Somalia: Its genesis and dynamics”, Nordiska afrikainstitutet, 1991.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | International Relations |
| Journal Section | Articles |
| Authors | |
| Publication Date | December 25, 2021 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2021 Issue: 60 |
