Getting Somalia wrong

Somalia is a comprehensively failed state, representing a threat to itself, its neighbours and the wider world. In recent years, it has also opened up as a new ‘southern front’ in the war on terror. In “Getting Somalia Wrong”, Mary Harper presents the first comprehensive analysis of the chaos into which the country has descended and the United States’ renewed involvement there. Harper argues that viewing Somalia through the prism of Al Qaeda runs the risk of further destabilizing the country and the entire Horn of Africa. Somalis now hijack the terror narrative, accusing political adversaries of extremism in order to gain Western financial and military support. The book also shows that though it may be a failed state, Somalia is far from being a failed society; in fact alternative forms of business, justice, education and local politics have survived and even flourished. Until the international community starts to ‘get it right’ the consequences will be devastating, not just for Somalia but for the world.