The Seen and Unseen: Gaps, Themes, and Trajectories in Somali Economic Development Research

Abstract

The systematically performed metadata reviews have produced a comprehensive mapping and analysis of the scholarly and policy literature on the economic development of Somalia, covering the period from 1991 to 2023. It was able to point out six main thematic clusters, namely: the informal economy and endogenous resilience; the political economy of state collapse and state-building relations; key economic sectors and livelihoods; the role of external actors and aid; systemic constraints such as climate change and insecurity; and new issues like natural resources and regional integration. The analysis indicated that at the beginning, the literature was focused on state failure; then came the praising of informal adaptation; and finally, the present-day involvement with the intricacies of state-building amid the perpetual crises. The review mentioned that the researchers heavily depended on qualitative case studies and data provided by international organizations, which were limited due to security issues, and also that the international community had the majority of the say when it comes to the production of knowledge. It was also pointed out that among the areas of research that were critically under-represented were industrialization, labor markets, gender, and comparative analysis. The research suggested that it is necessary to let the Somali people lead in future research and policies and also make them more grounded in the local context, to fill the gaps and thus pave the way for sustainable and inclusive development.