Winter 2006/07
"Governance without Government in Somalia: Spoilers, State Building, and the Politics of Coping"
Journal Article, International Security, issue 3, volume 31
By Ken Menkhaus
When states fail to provide their citizens with security and rule of law, local and regional actors must step in to fill the void. Such intervention provides a temporary solution, but as time passes warlords and other groups can and do gain some degree of legitimacy, which further prevents a functioning central government from emerging. Somalia in particular faces serious challenges of state revival. Its weak transitional federal government could, however, explore a mediated state model, which—though problematic—might be the "best bad option" for Somalia.
