Mimesis and mimicry in dynamics of state and identity formation in northern Somalia.(Report)

ABSTRACT

In this article, mimesis and mimicry are used as analytical concepts to explore dynamics of state and identity formation in Somaliland and Puntland since the early 1990s. Mimesis captures endeavours to imitate well-established models of social and political organization. Mimicry involves the deceptive imitation of such models in order to reach a certain aim. In the particular setting of northern Somalia, miming and mimicking in state and identity formation are also related to conflict escalation. The article first presents relevant political and legal positions on state collapse and secession. This helps to grasp the theoretical and policy implications of the empirical material. Then, the establishment of Somaliland and Puntland through mimesis and mimicry is sketched. The outline of the repeated military confrontations between both sides, particularly the last round of fighting in and around the town of Laascaanood in late 2007, indicates the relation of state and identity formation to military conflict. These localized dynamics are embedded into the continuing conflict in southern Somalia that involves a number of internal and external actors. The article concludes that miming and mimicking underlie many of Somaliland's and Puntland's internal developments and their conflictive relationship. Moreover, since the conflict in northern Somalia concerns state formation, it might have far-reaching consequences for the future of Somalia as a whole. This finally leads to the suggestion that the international norms regarding state collapse and secession have to be re-evaluated in the light of the empirical realities at hand.

RESUME

Dans cet article, le mimetisme et l'imitation sont utilises comme concepts analytiques pour explorer la dynamique de l'Etat et la formation identitaire dans le Somaliland et le Puntland depuis le debut des annees 1990. Le mimetisme traduit les tentatives d'imiter des modeles bien etablis d'organisation sociale et politique. L'imitation designe l'imitation trompeuse de tels modeles dans un but precis. Dans le contexte particulier du Nord de la Somalie, le mimetisme et l'imitation dans la formation de l'Etat et de l'identite sont egalement lits a l'escalade des conflits. L'article commence par presenter les positions politiques et juridiques pertinentes sur l'effondrement de l'Etat et la secession. Ce faisant, il aide a saisir les implications theoriques et politiques du materiel empirique. Il decrit ensuite l'etablissement du Somaliland et du Puntland par le biais du mimetisme et de l'imitation. L'expose des confrontations militaires repetees entre les deux bords, notamment la derniere vague de combats dans la ville de Laascaanood et ses environs fin 2007, montre le lien entre la formation de l'Etat et de l'identite et le conflit militaire. Ces dynamiques localisees se fondent dans le conflit qui persiste dans le Sud de la Somalie et implique un certain nombre d'acteurs internes et externes. L'article conclut que le mimetisme et l'imitation sont a la base d'un grand nombre d'evenements internes au Somaliland et au Puntland et de leur relation conflictuelle. De plus, parce que le conflit du Nord de la Somalie concerne la formation de l'Etat, il peut avoir des consequences considerables pour le futur de la Somalie dans son ensemble. L'article finit en suggerant qu'il conviendrait de reevaluer les normes internationales en matiere d'effondrement d'Etat et de secession, a la lumiere des realites empiriques disponibles.

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The muddle of Somali statehood reveals the limits of the current international system. (1) The empty shell of the collapsed state of Somalia enjoys international recognition, whereas Somaliland in north-western Somalia, which seceded in 1991 and developed as a de facto state, goes unrecognized. Puntland in the north-east is somewhat in-between. It is part of a future federal Somalia; in the absence of the latter, 'Puntland will exercise within its jurisdiction the rights of the former Somalia' (Charter of the State of Puntland). This situation does not find any reflection within the state-centric structure of international law. Additionally, the factual absence of any internally representative and externally recognized Somali authority leaves the Somali population in a legal and political limbo, without access to foreign embassies, valid travel documents, and so forth, and defenceless against external intervention. Somalis continue to uphold the idea of the state, which, however, over the years of civil war and statelessness, has split up into a 'one state' and a 'two state' vision. The latter informed the secession of Somaliland, while the former is adhered to by Somali nationalists, among them the constituency of Puntland, who reject the division of Somalia. (2)

Starting from this empirical situation, I wish to make a more general point about identity and state formation in northern Somalia through mimesis and mimicry. Doornbos has observed that among the Bakonzo in western Uganda and the ancient Hebrews kingship was established by emulation. In his words, '[t]he two cases illustrate how closely interrelated can be the emulation and adoption of worldly state institutions, the assertion of political power and the articulation of identity' (Doornbos 2006: 19). Drawing on institutional economics he emphasizes 'the strength and importance of organisational models in competitive processes' as 'pull factors' for processes of emulation (ibid.: 21). In a similar vein Spruyt (2007: 220) notes that