Warlords and Trust Networks. The Case of the Somali Republic

Abstract

This paper focuses on warlordism as a phenomenon that occurs in failed states. After evaluating the extant theoretical framework on warlords, we argue that the behavior of groups ruled by such leaders might be better explained in terms of trust networks, drawing on Charles Tilly’s work on the subject. In order to support our thesis, we used data regarding the manifestation of warlordism in a country considered to be the prototype of failed states, namely the Republic of Somalia.

Keywords

• warlord
• trust network
• authority
• failed state
• Somalia