The History of Somalia

by Raphael Chijioke Njoku, Frank W. Thackeray (Editor), John E. Findling (Editor)

Overview

This book vividly depicts Somalia from its pre-colonial period to the present day, documenting the tumultuous history of a nation that has faced many challenges.

Somalia is a nation with a history that stretches back more than ten millennia to the beginnings of human civilization. This book provides sweeping coverage of Somalia's history ranging from the earliest times to its modern-day status as a country of ten million inhabitants, providing a unique social-scientific treatment of the nation's key issues across ethnic and regional boundaries.

The book addresses not only Somali sociocultural and political history but also covers Somalia's administration and economy, secessionist movements, civil and regional wars, and examines the dynamics of state collapse, democratization, terrorism, and piracy in contemporary times. The author details the extremely rich history of the Somali people and their customs while documenting past history, enabling readers to make meaning out of the country's ongoing crisis.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313378577
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	02/20/2013
Series:	The Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations
Pages:	211
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Raphael Chijioke Njoku, PhD, is the chair and director of the International Studies Program/Department of Economics, and professor of African/world history at Idaho State University. He holds a doctorate in African history from Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada, and a doctorate in political science from Vrije University Brussel.

Table of Contents

Series Foreword ix

Preface and Acknowledgments xiii

Acronyms xvii

Timeline of Historical Events xxi

1 The Land and the People of Somalia: An Overview 1

2 Precolonial States and Societies 23

3 Colonial Conquest 47

4 The Model Colony at War and the Aftermath, 1900-1960 71

5 Independence and Nation Building, 1960-1969 95

6 Mohamed Siad Barre and the "New Era," 1969-1991 115

7 Dad-Cunkil (Cannibalism), Secessionism, and Operation Restore Hope 137

8 Back to the Future: Disunity, Disorder, and the Consociational Imperative 161

Notable People in the History of Somalia 185

Selected Bibliography 193

Index 199

Editorial Reviews

A good basic introduction for anybody interested in the region.” —Booklist

“The author of this work, the chair/director of the International Studies Program at Idaho State University, has written quite a nice monograph on Somali history in only about 200 pages. . . . This work is recommended for most libraries, but especially high school, college, and public libraries.” —ARBA

From the Publisher