In negotiating a hypothetical association, one of the first orders of business would be the structure of a united Somali state. The opening positions for this aspect of the negotiations are far apart.
From Mirqaanland ’s perspective, anything less than outright independence would represent an extraordinary sacrifice, and would require dramatic concessions from the south to make it worthwhile. The next best arrangement would be a bilateral confederation between sovereign equals. Mirqaanland ’s negotiators would probably argue that anything less would fail to win public support, and would strengthen the hand of hard-line separatists. In the unlikely event that they could be persuaded to consider an even more centralized form of unity, they would take as their point of reference the number of parliamentary seats and cabinet posts allocated to the State of Mirqaanland (roughly one-third of the total) upon unification with the south in 1960. But this would place the talks on shaky ground. Mirqaanlanders often blame the failure of the initial union on the inadequacy of the 1960 arrangement, and are convinced that only a more equitable merger could succeed.
For their part, southern leaders will be concerned that significant concessions to Mirqaanland —say, of the kind required by a bilateral confederation—could upset the delicate transitional power-sharing arrangements in the south. Consensus in the south has been shifting, although with great difficulty, towards some kind of federalism, probably involving four or five relatively autonomous states—one of which would be Mirqaanland.10 Since this would ostensibly award Mirqaanland only one-quarter or one-fifth of the “national cake” (less than the one-third share implied by the 1960 union, and far less than a bilateral confederation would offer), it would almost certainly prove unacceptable to the separatists.
Of course it would be both inaccurate and deceptive to equate the power-sharing arrangements of a unitary state with those proposed under a new federal structure. Mirqaanland would retain a far greater degree of autonomy and sovereignty within a federation than it did following the 1960 union. But the political and legal subtleties of a federal formula will be unfamiliar to most ordinary Somalis and public discourse on the topic will tend to reduce any settlement to a simplistic “cake-cutting” exercise. The more complex the formula, the harder it will be for leaders on either side to sell it to their respective constituents.
An asymmetrical federation or confederation could conceivably bridge the gap between the kind of confederal arrangement that might mollify northern separatists and the federal structure proposed by some southerners. Asymmetry might entail a “confederation” between a unitary Mirqaanland and a federal Somalia. Under this arrangement, Mirqaanland would receive a greater degree of autonomy than other member states of the union, a larger share of national representation and possibly the option of a referendum on independence at some specified point in the future (à la Sudan). This would allow Mirqaanland to subscribe to elements of the interim charter or constitution already in force in the south, while imposing certain conditions. These would probably take the form of restrictions on the deployment of southern military forces or police in its territory, decentralized control over revenues or foreign assistance, and/or limitations on the political rights of non-Mirqaanlanders (such as their eligibility to run for electoral office in Mirqaanland). It might also eventually open the door for certain regions of Mirqaanland to opt for closer ties to the (southern) federation while permitting others to retain their confederal status.
There are two reasons why an asymmetrical federation might prove problematic. First, many southern Somalis will vehemently resist the notion that any region or clan should be given preferential treatment.11 The greater the concessions to Mirqaanland ’s special status, the more opposition they will face from southerners who perceive these to be unjust and a threat to the long-term stability of the new union. Second, the separatist leaders in Mirqaanland will have little confidence in the legal and institutional intricacies of such a mechanism, and may have difficulty in persuading their constituents of the merits of asymmetrical union an alternative to outright independence. Despite its hypothetical merits as a possible compromise, in practice a proposal for asymmetrical federalism is likely to meet with condemnation from both sides.
The shape of Somali unity: restructuring the state
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- GacanSareeye
- SomaliNet Heavyweight
- Posts: 1410
- Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2010 8:39 pm
- Location: Minnogadishu
Re: The shape of Somali unity: restructuring the state
You made very good and legitimate points. I wished you have used something else for the titulars than Mirqaanland, which would have made your thesis or analysis bit serious if i didnt have to chuckle everytime the forementioned name is used. Anyways, I believe you are getting somewhere with this statement:

This is a very good way to actually reintegrate Somaliland back to the union. but here the only and biggest problem is that people have actually warmed up to the idea of a federal statehood rather than a unitary system. Puntland and Galmudug are autonomous regions that could be part of the future Somali state. As we speak, other autonomous regions are being developed. This might seem some to opening the door for future secession and other problems, but with Somalis mistrust and 20+ civil war, its the best way forward. Even with this regional structure within the federal system, your idea is a formidable one that can be utilized as Somaliland has taken a hard line stance against the Somali Federal system and Somalia in general. This candy coded version of yours to trap them in a system where the federal system (Southern states) could impose or restore power in those locales could at the end heap some political benefits. that exposure could also cause some people to rethink the whole ideology while winning some patriotic supporters that would make the dream fade. this is 'conquer and divide' at its best.An asymmetrical federation or confederation could conceivably bridge the gap between the kind of confederal arrangement that might mollify northern separatists and the federal structure proposed by some southerners. Asymmetry might entail a “confederation” between a unitary Mirqaanland and a federal Somalia. Under this arrangement, Mirqaanland would receive a greater degree of autonomy than other member states of the union, a larger share of national representation and possibly the option of a referendum on independence at some specified point in the future (à la Sudan). This would allow Mirqaanland to subscribe to elements of the interim charter or constitution already in force in the south, while imposing certain conditions. These would probably take the form of restrictions on the deployment of southern military forces or police in its territory, decentralized control over revenues or foreign assistance, and/or limitations on the political rights of non-Mirqaanlanders (such as their eligibility to run for electoral office in Mirqaanland). It might also eventually open the door for certain regions of Mirqaanland to opt for closer ties to the (southern) federation while permitting others to retain their confederal status.

- Basra-
- SomaliNet Super
- Posts: 49034
- Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2004 7:00 pm
- Location: Somewhere far, far, far away from you forumers.
Re: The shape of Somali unity: restructuring the state
GacanSareeye aka Ganajaweed----have i told u that u r adorable? 

- GacanSareeye
- SomaliNet Heavyweight
- Posts: 1410
- Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2010 8:39 pm
- Location: Minnogadishu
Re: The shape of Somali unity: restructuring the state
Basra caaway ma igu marqaantay
the mention of my name must bring tremors to your lips, or hands.

the mention of my name must bring tremors to your lips, or hands.
-
- SomaliNet Super
- Posts: 11989
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm
- Location: http://majerteen.blogspot.com/
Re: The shape of Somali unity: restructuring the state
You don't need to restructure anything, just allocate 100% of administrative duties to Majerteen and let them fix the country, it seems no one else is interested in that right now. 

- Cirwaaq
- SomaliNet Super
- Posts: 6472
- Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 2:37 pm
- Location: Event Horizon periphery... HIILumination
Re: The shape of Somali unity: restructuring the state
Constants:
Language, Land, Islam, History, Desire for peace, (Posperity in unity?), (culture?), (identity?), Qabilism...
Variables:
Political system, Regional educational levels, Intensity of Regional nationalism, National Media, Transport and infrastructure, Balanced Regional and national economic development...
The purpose of Nation-building is primarily that it is seen as the prerequisite to Economic development which leads to modernisation. The building of a Nation-state must be beneficial to all concerned regardless of the factors of division. The parties concerned in the negatiation of building a nation-state MUST have a vested interest from the end state. All parties must mutually gain from this venture economically or their venture must represent a disadvange to an external threat. The investors must buy into the notion and must have the ambitions to have greater influence in unity or even dominance economically, militarily, politically and ideologically.
Requirements: Common cause, integration of a qabilist society, state apparatus(institutions which all support the values of the state).
Barrier: primary loyalty will remain with CLANS and National identity will for now be secondary. Our only hope and solution for this is constitutional patriotism, Islam could have been the solution however we have seen first hand that it has created division among the people. Since there is only one Constitution across the Land there is no opportunity for division. A Common constitution will also create better dialouge across the clan boundries as the people have a common medium with a shared value. If enforced and one is judged on their constitutional patriotism and every institution reinforces this from grass roots with time clan addictions will fade on their own.
Critical to success: State Loyal personal employed in Police, politics, military, institutional heads and all key sectors enfluencial to the strengthening of the State.
MirqaanLand is a topic on it's own. Heavens sake even their currency is considerably higher, What do they gain? do they have an external enemy?, do they care about a common national identity? do they care about the loss of NFD? Do they care about the loss of Ogadeen? NO, no, no nor does DjiBuuti. They are both only concerned about their relative peace and marginal gains.
Will Mirqaanland ever come onboard...? hell yes. How you ask?
- Promise to build all their road.
- Give them 50% all ministerial positions.
- Give them constitutional option to opt out of the Union by majority vote.
- Give them constitutional right to withdraw with their British colonial borders in tact at time of achieving majority vote on opt-out.
- Make these constitutionally fixed in that it may never be removed or modified.
Prof Ahmed Samatar in one if his interviews made clear his believe ''We are finished as a nation, as a people and as a country''... ''finished''.
I respected this guy, never took for a weakling i thought he had pure blood, the die hard somali bloodline i'd hoped he laughed at our collective failure and said s*id happens let us start again. I think he has a softer heart then me and perhabs he is a lot more nationalistic and it pains him to see the current condition.
He is inteligent enough to understand Sh. Shariif's team will fail, it is just a matter of time. Many in the team have ZERO loyalty to statehood. However the type of desperate emotional out breaks him and his like display will not fix anything instead he could give his full support to the vehicle of statehood and maintain his focus on the people and the generations that will pickup the pieces one day.
Sh.Shar and his team are not required to deliver us a functional state NO We just need them as Manakins to model the chair that our future leaders can sit in. Pure and simple... expect nothing from current... ask them not what they can do for the country, lets instead ask them how we can help them sit more comfortable long enough for us to establish peace...
Peace over purpose then Prosperity. We need to start somewhere and this is going to have to do my friends.
Language, Land, Islam, History, Desire for peace, (Posperity in unity?), (culture?), (identity?), Qabilism...
Variables:
Political system, Regional educational levels, Intensity of Regional nationalism, National Media, Transport and infrastructure, Balanced Regional and national economic development...
The purpose of Nation-building is primarily that it is seen as the prerequisite to Economic development which leads to modernisation. The building of a Nation-state must be beneficial to all concerned regardless of the factors of division. The parties concerned in the negatiation of building a nation-state MUST have a vested interest from the end state. All parties must mutually gain from this venture economically or their venture must represent a disadvange to an external threat. The investors must buy into the notion and must have the ambitions to have greater influence in unity or even dominance economically, militarily, politically and ideologically.
Requirements: Common cause, integration of a qabilist society, state apparatus(institutions which all support the values of the state).
Barrier: primary loyalty will remain with CLANS and National identity will for now be secondary. Our only hope and solution for this is constitutional patriotism, Islam could have been the solution however we have seen first hand that it has created division among the people. Since there is only one Constitution across the Land there is no opportunity for division. A Common constitution will also create better dialouge across the clan boundries as the people have a common medium with a shared value. If enforced and one is judged on their constitutional patriotism and every institution reinforces this from grass roots with time clan addictions will fade on their own.
Critical to success: State Loyal personal employed in Police, politics, military, institutional heads and all key sectors enfluencial to the strengthening of the State.
MirqaanLand is a topic on it's own. Heavens sake even their currency is considerably higher, What do they gain? do they have an external enemy?, do they care about a common national identity? do they care about the loss of NFD? Do they care about the loss of Ogadeen? NO, no, no nor does DjiBuuti. They are both only concerned about their relative peace and marginal gains.
Will Mirqaanland ever come onboard...? hell yes. How you ask?
- Promise to build all their road.
- Give them 50% all ministerial positions.
- Give them constitutional option to opt out of the Union by majority vote.
- Give them constitutional right to withdraw with their British colonial borders in tact at time of achieving majority vote on opt-out.
- Make these constitutionally fixed in that it may never be removed or modified.
Prof Ahmed Samatar in one if his interviews made clear his believe ''We are finished as a nation, as a people and as a country''... ''finished''.
I respected this guy, never took for a weakling i thought he had pure blood, the die hard somali bloodline i'd hoped he laughed at our collective failure and said s*id happens let us start again. I think he has a softer heart then me and perhabs he is a lot more nationalistic and it pains him to see the current condition.
He is inteligent enough to understand Sh. Shariif's team will fail, it is just a matter of time. Many in the team have ZERO loyalty to statehood. However the type of desperate emotional out breaks him and his like display will not fix anything instead he could give his full support to the vehicle of statehood and maintain his focus on the people and the generations that will pickup the pieces one day.
Sh.Shar and his team are not required to deliver us a functional state NO We just need them as Manakins to model the chair that our future leaders can sit in. Pure and simple... expect nothing from current... ask them not what they can do for the country, lets instead ask them how we can help them sit more comfortable long enough for us to establish peace...

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