Democracy, particularly liberal democracy, is a good thing and it is the best system for managing a country. However before becoming democratic, societies need to reach a certain stage of socio-economic development. They need an educated population, a middle-class, existing national institutions and a national identity. Except for the last one, Somalia does not have any of that (and even the Somali national identity has been severely weakened since 1991).
Somalis are currently a largely nomadic, uneducated population of very poor people. The average Somali back home is focused just on staying alive. People in this condition are unlikely to become a successful democratic constituency. Even if Somalia reaches one-man-one-vote in 2020, it is likely that the 'democracy' will degrade to naked tribal clientelism where people are pressured by illiterate clan elders to vote for the candidate that has paid them off, and where there is also widespread vote fraud and manipulation. Somalia does not have the necessary critical mass of informed, educated people that can serve as the backbone of a successful and accountable democratic government. Most Somalis back home are illiterate, and most of the educated people have dispersed into the diaspora (and even among the diaspora the educated are a minority).
Given Somalia's current condition, it's irresponsible for the Western countries to force democracy on the country.
Somalia can one day become a successful democratic nation, but not now. Pushing democracy prematurely will set the country up for failure.
What Somalia needs is a strong-handed, benevolent authoritarian regime that will focus on promoting rapid economic development. We don't need to waste money on elections, we need roads. We don't need 30% women in parliament, we need maternity hospitals. We don't need committees of illiterate clan elders, we need schools teaching people how to read and write. We don't need endless hotel conferences promoting 'reconciliation,' we need a government that has a monopoly on violence and which crushes all the endless tribal blood feuds ravaging the bush.
We basically need another MSB, just minus the excessive violence, nepotism, and the retarded marxist economic policies. Despite his many shortcomings, and despite all the people he tragically killed later in his administration, MSB's government was the most successful we've had: Somalia was the safest country in Africa back then and he dramatically improved literacy. Authoritarianism works, just ask China.
Somalis are currently a largely nomadic, uneducated population of very poor people. The average Somali back home is focused just on staying alive. People in this condition are unlikely to become a successful democratic constituency. Even if Somalia reaches one-man-one-vote in 2020, it is likely that the 'democracy' will degrade to naked tribal clientelism where people are pressured by illiterate clan elders to vote for the candidate that has paid them off, and where there is also widespread vote fraud and manipulation. Somalia does not have the necessary critical mass of informed, educated people that can serve as the backbone of a successful and accountable democratic government. Most Somalis back home are illiterate, and most of the educated people have dispersed into the diaspora (and even among the diaspora the educated are a minority).
Given Somalia's current condition, it's irresponsible for the Western countries to force democracy on the country.
Somalia can one day become a successful democratic nation, but not now. Pushing democracy prematurely will set the country up for failure.
What Somalia needs is a strong-handed, benevolent authoritarian regime that will focus on promoting rapid economic development. We don't need to waste money on elections, we need roads. We don't need 30% women in parliament, we need maternity hospitals. We don't need committees of illiterate clan elders, we need schools teaching people how to read and write. We don't need endless hotel conferences promoting 'reconciliation,' we need a government that has a monopoly on violence and which crushes all the endless tribal blood feuds ravaging the bush.
We basically need another MSB, just minus the excessive violence, nepotism, and the retarded marxist economic policies. Despite his many shortcomings, and despite all the people he tragically killed later in his administration, MSB's government was the most successful we've had: Somalia was the safest country in Africa back then and he dramatically improved literacy. Authoritarianism works, just ask China.
