Trade Makes States: Governing the Greater Somali Economy

Trade Makes States emphasizes the importance of trade and the circulation of goods in Somali societies, economies, and politics. It explores the politics of circulation between competing public administrations and the challenges of governing commodity flows to rule over lands and peoples. Transnational Somali markets provide insights into contemporary state formation on the margins of global supply-chain capitalism.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 20 April 2023
Publisher: C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd

Trade Makes States delves into the intricate relationship between trade, goods circulation, and Somali societies, economies, and politics. Conducting comprehensive research across East Africa's Somali-inhabited economic space, including regions in Kenya, Djibouti, Uganda, and Ethiopia, this volume uncovers the profound interconnectedness between trade and state-building in the aftermath of state collapse. It scrutinizes the complex politics of circulation among competing public administrations, driven by the pursuit of revenue generation and infrastructure control along major trade corridors. By integrating classic debates on state formation with recent scholarship on logistics and cross-border trading, Trade Makes States argues that the facilitation and control of commodity flows have played a pivotal role in the creation and dissolution of states across the Somali territories. As aspiring state-builders navigate the complexities of governing the flow of goods, they face the daunting challenge of establishing authority over land and people.

The contributors to this volume shed light on the remarkable resilience and self-governance of transnational Somali markets. Their dynamic nature and day-to-day administration by a diverse range of actors offer valuable insights into contemporary state formation amidst the margins of global supply-chain capitalism. Through their diverse perspectives and empirical evidence, the contributors highlight the complexities and challenges faced by Somali societies, economies, and politics in the context of trade and goods circulation. This book serves as a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners interested in understanding the dynamics of state formation, governance, and the role of trade in shaping the political landscape of Somalia and beyond.

Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781787387058