Somalia works: police development as State building

bibliographic database
Line

Periodical article

Title:	Somalia works: police development as State building
Author:	Hills, Alice
Year:	2014
Periodical:	African Affairs: The Journal of the Royal African Society (ISSN 1468-2621)
Volume:	113
Issue:	450
Pages:	88-107
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Somalia Somaliland
Subjects:	police State formation
External link:	http://afraf.oxfordjournals.org/content/113/450/88.full.pdf
Abstract:	Somalia is an exceptionally insecure State that nevertheless offers an arena in which police officers and institutions can - and do - function. This article argues that Somalia's three regional police forces offer insight into the dynamics that result when locally driven institution-building projects interface with international State-building projects. The resultant picture is nuanced because police negotiate with private actors even as they develop their State-based authority, and their achievements are limited by Somali power brokers sharing a political understanding of security provision, valuing external assistance as a business opportunity, and adapting international models of governance accordingly. Consequently, while the prospects for institution building are favourable, stabilization is unlikely to shift into State building or development. Notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]