Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Does Somaliland Provide State Building Lessons for Somalia?

The Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies published in November 2014 a study titled "Thinking beyond Roadmaps in Somalia: Expanding Policy Options for State Building" by Dominik Balthasar, researcher, policy analyst, and international development consultant.

Balthasar concludes that Somaliland's experience provides useful insights for Somalia's state-building endeavor.  He suggests international policymakers and their local partners in Somalia might benefit from taking a close look at Somaliland's state building, which followed an unconventional path compared with approaches in Somalia.  Balthasar encourages Somalis and their international partners to think more flexibly and creatively about the way ahead.