Democracy and Society

Somalia is not a failed state

Mariel — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:42:39 +0000

According to Sharif Ahmed. He makes some good points, but I”m not sure it is correct to say that the rest of the world thinks that Somalia is of no consequence: the piracy, terrorism and generally bad situation there means that lots of people are paying attention.

To make his case, Ahmed cites the underfunding of the AU mission and the need for more Somali troops. He is right to say that more is needed in both cases, but I fail to see how either qualifies as evidence of neglect. The AU is chronically underfunded, in part because it is an independent African association (or supposed to be) and African countries don’t have many resources to share. This is a reason to help develop Africa, but that’s not entirely our fault (Ahmed appears to be addressing the West; if he is directing his remarks at African leaders – as he should be – then my apologies).

He also states that Somalia needs more troops. Again, I’m sure he’s right, but this is not always a case of underfunding; witness Iraq and Afghanistan or Pakistan. The US has poured in billions of dollars and all three still lack adequate forces, both national and otherwise. Years of war across the globe have stretched everyone a little thin, even while there is will to help. It is unfortunate, because peacekeeping troops probably could help Somalia stabilize, but I’m not sure where they’d come from. Even with stability, there is no guarantee that Somalia will emerge from this as a successful state. So far it seems that the Somalis just don’t like each other, and that is not a good start for nation-building.

I wish Ahmed luck. I think he needs to lead the international community in rebuilding his country, and he can start by not expecting us to simply follow.

Yeah, what he said

Barak — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:18:45 +0000

I am not posting much these days because USAID’s expectations of what I am supposed to achieve in three weeks in Tanzania are completely unrealistic. So instead of witty insight from me today, you can read this.

Investing in politics

Barak — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:32:31 +0000

The role of business people in politics is a big issue here in Tanzania as it is in many countries. Many people view the issue cynically: business people go into politics solely to use the political process to increase their profits. While this is part of the reason, I also believe there exists a more charitable explanation. Like many developing countries, Tanzania’s regulatory institutions are weak. As a result, business people often need powerful political allies to protect their investments. Business people may thus see going into politics as an investment when regulatory institutions are weak. While collective action to produce a better regulatory climate may be the socially optimal outcome, collective action problems make individual political action – investing in politicians or becoming one – the rational strategy.

International Law and Sovereignty

MErickson — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:56:58 +0000

It is well noted in the literature of international law that the primary challenge facing the discipline of international law is the problem of how order is created and observed among sovereign states. This necessarily leads to different paradigms in exploring contemporary explanations of sovereignty and the powers and limits of sovereignty. Most notably, sovereignty (whether embodied in governmental institutions, quasi-government institutions or non-governmental institutions) furthers itself through the expansion of power manifested through territorial gain, economic gain and advancement of its institutional imprint. Will international law in a now globalized economy of “sovereign equals” further a new order and narrative of sovereignty? Are we now in a post-modern narrative of sovereign equality between nation-states?

I wish Tanzania had press freedom

Barak — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:20:54 +0000

Tanzania does not have extensive press freedom. Transparency in media ownership is a problem as well. This is making for a rather frustrating experience in attempting to map politics in Tanzania. While business people with close connections to the ruling party own lots of newspapers, self-censorship and opaque ownership structures make interpreting the news a bit of a challenge. Instead of naming people, articles use terms like “certain people.” Moreover, vague discussions of issues make it difficult to determine substantive differences on issues from personal vendettas. A free press and clear knowledge of who owns what would make my job a lot easier. Ugh!

Norms and external sanctions

MErickson — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:35:22 +0000

Elster posits that “norms do not need external sanctions to be effective,” because when “norms are internalized, they are followed even when violation would be unobserved and not exposed to sanctions.” Further, he cites that “shame” or “anticipation of it” are sufficient internal sanctions. The way in which social scientists understand norms has direct bearing on the functioning of institutions. The way in which societies utilize institutions and their “rules” either by law or custom, is largely dependent on the norms of the players who play or do not play by the “rules.”

Rule of Law in China

MErickson — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:53:17 +0000

Oxford Analytica reports that since 2004 the “protection of constitutional rights have subsided in China.” More specifically, since 2008, a new political doctrine “requires all judges to uphold ‘the Party’s cause, the people’s interests, and the constitution and the law’ as ’supreme.’ By contrast, an independent rule of law would require supremacy of the constitution only. Courts have also been instructed to follow earlier models of adjudication practised under Mao Zedong (pre-1976), when the party-state saw courts as instruments of ‘people’s dictatorship’ and used legal processes to fight ‘the people’s enemies.’”

The progression of an independent rule of law in China through changes in judicial practice will be enhanced through international instruments in the broader multilnational community. As China assumes broader responsibilities as a stakeholder in the international system, an independent rule of law will be fostered.

Aid corrupts: a case study

Barak — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:06:14 +0000

In my early twenties, I spent two years traveling around Latin America and the Middle East. I lived on a shoestring budget, slept in horrible hotels, and worked the most menial jobs. I thought it was great.

In my late twenties, I worked on foreign aid for the US Department of the Treasury. I went to Africa often and stayed at the nicest hotels. It was a big step up from the days of hostels with cold showers, broken locks on doors, and putrid bathrooms. I appreciated my good fortune.

These days, I consult on aid policy to Africa from time to time. I still stay at the nicest hotels on the continent. The big difference is that I no longer appreciate the hotels, but moan whenever the wireless internet or satellite TV isn’t working.

Take it from me, aid corrupts.

A hypothesis for why aid doesn’t work

Barak — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:36:34 +0000

Because foreigners sitting in the fanciest hotels in the recipient country make the policies without spending much time outside said hotels. How do I know? It’s what I am doing in Tanzania right now.

My government doesn’t understand Tanzania

Barak — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:40:48 +0000

I am in Tanzania for a few weeks doing a political analysis of the country for USAID. I read the US government’s Country Assistance Strategy for Tanzania this afternoon. It was a bit maddening:

Even though Tanzania does not have a problem with terrorism, the country’s problem with terrorism was in the first paragraph.
Even though Tanzania is politically stable, the first paragraph notes that Tanzania’s (non-existent) problem with terrorism could undermine its stability.
Even though there are no extremist movements in Tanzania, the first paragraph highlights this non-existent problem.

As a result of Tanzania’s fictional problems cited above, the US assistance strategy is to help fight terrorism in Tanzania – a problem which does not exist. Ugh!