Power And Politics in Somalia’s Federal System: Balancing Central Authority and Regional Autonomy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.68050/JAMS.2026.398Keywords:
Power and Politics, Federal System, Balancing Central Authority and Regional AutonomyAbstract
This study investigates the dynamics of federalism within the context of Somalia's ongoing state reconstruction efforts following decades of conflict. It is guided by three specific objectives: first, to assess the levels of federalism, the role of the central government, and the influence of local governments on state reconstruction in Somalia; second, to examine the impact of federalism on the processes of state reconstruction; and third, to analyze how state reconstruction in Somalia is influenced by the principles of federalism.
The research framework is grounded in William Riker's theory (1964), which delineates the essential characteristics of a federal government, emphasizing the coexistence of a central government and various regional authorities, each possessing the autonomy to make independent decisions. A cross-sectional and correlational research design was employed to explore the relationship between federalism and state reconstruction in Somalia. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS, with findings presented in tabular format to illustrate key results.
The study reveals a notable level of federalism and state reconstruction, both assessed as relatively high based on mean scores of 3.85 and 4.02, respectively. The findings indicate a strong positive correlation between federalism and state reconstruction, suggesting that the principles of federalism significantly facilitate state-building efforts in Somalia.
In conclusion, the findings demonstrate that federalism plays a significant and positive role in facilitating state reconstruction in Somalia, underscoring the delicate balance between central authority and regional autonomy in the nation’s political landscape. To enhance the effectiveness of federalism, it is recommended that the central government establish a clear constitutional framework, empower local governments, promote community engagement, and ensure that international assistance aligns with local priorities.
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Articles published in the Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Studies (JAMS) are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), unless otherwise stated. Authors retain copyright of their work and grant JAMS the right of first publication.
