The colonial legacy in Somalia : Rome and Mogadishu : from colonial administration to Operation Restore Hope

The Colonial Legacy in Somalia is an investigation into the relationship between Rome and Mogadishu, from the period of colonial administration to the recent dramatic events of Operation Restore Hope. It defines the first Italian incursions in the Horn of Africa, the history of the expansionist plans of an imperial late comer, such as Italy, and explores the decade of the Trusteeship Administration from 1950-1960 when Italy tried to introduce a new state system in Mogadishu: It analyzes the events of the 1970s and 1980s when Siad Barre's regime, in spite of his repressive and violent attitude, enjoyed strong support from the former colonial power. The book demonstrates a love-hate relationship between Rome and Mogadishu in the colonial and postcolonial period and examines the consequences of this interaction. The tragic events in Somalia in the 1990s, with the collapse of the Somali state and the failure of humanitarian intervention, have seen scholars analyze how Siad Barre's regime came to an end and how clanism has destabilized Somali society. Until now no extensive study has investigated a major factor in recent Somali evolution: its relationship with Italy over the last century. The Colonial Legacy in Somalia analyzes the consequences of this relationship from colonial administration to the present day. Tripodi examines the motives of Italian imperial expansionism and explains the role Italy played in the formation of the Somali state, why Italy supported Siad Barre's repressive regime and the controversial Italian position during the UNOSOM II. He explains the root of the disagreement between Italy, the US and the UN on the use of force and the Italian approach to peacekeeping in Somalia. Finding that the discussion of the transformation of the north African country from state to clans is missing a vital factor, Tripodi (international studies, Nottingham Trent U.) analyzes relations between Somalia and Italy over the last century, and its consequences from colonial administration to the present. He examines the motives of Italian imperial expansionism and explains the role Italy played in the formation of the Somali state, why Italy supported Siad Barre's repressive regime, and the controversial Italian position during the UNOSOM II. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Adam provided a clear explanation of the clan conflict when he stated, in Somalia, like ethnic conflict elsewhere, [clan conflict] has an instrumentalist orientation. It is fuelled by struggles for concrete interest -water and grazing rights for example. Beyond material, economic interest there are non-material, psychic factors that serve to complement such interests. Somali poetry records numerous wars for prestige -broadly defined to include material and psychic interest and incentives. 3 Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Introduction....Pages 1-8 An Historical Perspective on Italian Colonialism....Pages 9-48 Italy and the Administration of Somalia: a Difficult Mandate....Pages 49-74 AFIS: Two Difficult Tasks — Democratisation and Somalisation....Pages 75-105 Co-operation and Diplomacy....Pages 106-137 Mogadishu versus the World....Pages 138-165 Conclusion....Pages 166-170 Back Matter....Pages 171-219 "Tripodi examines the motives of Italian imperial expansionism and explains the role Italy played in the formation of the Somali state, why Italy supported Siad Barre's repressive regime and the controversial Italian position during the UNOSOM II. He explains the root of the disagreement between Italy, the US and the UN on the use of force and the Italian approach to peacekeeping in Somalia."--BOOK JACKET