Regularity in Chaos: the politics of difference in the recent history of Somalia
Author(s)
Schlee, Gunther
Abstract
In poststructuralist anthropology kinship and lineages are no longer fashionable. This paper, however, seeks to explore the constant elements, the patterns or “structures” so to speak, and, the lineage factor prominent among them, in connection with new and more variable factors in recent conflicts in Somalia. In order to clarify the lineages and the contractual elements employed in their mobilization it focuses on the best known example, the rivalry between the two pretenders to the presidency of the country, namely Aydid (killed in 1996 and succeeded by his son) and Ali Mahdi, along with their respective allies. In the 1990s each one was in control of a part of the capital city. It deals with old and new forces in Somali politics. Examples from other parts of Somalia and of Somali in other countries (Kenya, Europe …) are used to illustrate one or the other point but are not explored systematically. The paper starts with a summary of the history of Somalia and continues with an analysis of the forms of conflict extant there.
