JOURNAL: Somali Guerrilla Entrepreneurs

"Taxes are annoying"

Omar Hussein Ahmed, a Somali trader, as an explanation for why fellow traders had bought missiles to shoot at government soldiers. To the New York Times.

For some, it's impossible to imagine why anyone would want an anarchic hollow state instead of an orderly, structured society. It offends their sense of how things work. However, reality is somewhat messier. A great illustrative example of this is Jeffrey Gettleman's (writing for the New York Times) article, "In Somalia, Those Who Feed Off Anarchy Fuel It" (see the brief, "Guerrilla Entrepreneurs" for more on this topic). He writes:

Beyond clan rivalry and Islamic fervor, an entirely different motive is helping fuel the chaos in Somalia: profit. A whole class of opportunists — from squatter landlords to teenage gunmen for hire to vendors of out-of-date baby formula — have been feeding off the anarchy in Somalia for so long that they refuse to let go. They do not pay taxes, their businesses are totally unregulated, and they have skills that are not necessarily geared toward a peaceful society. In the past few weeks, some Western security officials say, these profiteers have been teaming up with clan fighters and radical Islamists to bring down Somalia’s transitional government...

For more insight into how corruption, guerrilla warfare, and black globalization form a feedback driven system that destabilizes states, read my book review of Moises Naim's Illicit. I also have a large section in my book that explains how this works (in detail and with numerous examples so you can easily get your head around the idea).

Comments

[Cavolonero]

I know people for whom " Snow Crash " is thier utopian ideal ~ ( they're also nuts, but, that's beside the point )

[Khawaga]

How is this any different from what peace/conflict studies view as War Economies? There as well there is very little difference between business and actors in a conflict.

[zenpundit]

"In the past few weeks, some Western security officials say, these profiteers have been teaming up with clan fighters and radical Islamists to bring down Somalia’s transitional government..."

Only a "western security official" would have advised (insisted) the Transitional Goverment unify their enemies by taking them on all on at once.

"There as well there is very little difference between business and actors in a conflict."

Peace stuides is about proselytizing moreso than it is about empirical analysis.

[JDubbs]

A Libertarian's paradise!

[dryki]

Chris Floyd has a different take on this situation.

http://www.chris-floyd.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1125&Itemid=135

"So it seems that Somalis -- even Somali businessmen -- can be governed, as long as people are treated fairly."

I'm in agreement that those who profit off the anarchy fuel it, but I don't think it's the olive oil merchant that benefits. A merchant class needs a filled-in state more than anyone else.