The Influence of Political Instabilty on Environmental Governance at the Horn of Africa: a Case Study of Somalia

Abstract

Political instability has far reaching effects on various spectrums of socio-economic issues including economic shrinkage, spread of diseases and illness, malnutrition and general hopelessness. The Horn of Africa is not new to political instabilities. For example, Somalia has been plagued by political instability for the last there decades. Moreover, Somalia has weak government institutions which makes policy making a challenge. Implementing policies by a weak government is even more challenging. Very few research is done on how political instability affects environmental governance. To fill this conceptual and contextual gap, this study will assess the nexus between political instability and environmental governance in the Horn of Africa. Moreover, this study has academic and policy justification. This study is based on three theories; Homer-Dixon environmental security theory, resource curse model and coming anarchy theory. The most appropriate design to use is descriptive research design considering that this study seeks to assess the nexus between political instability in the Somalia on environmental governance. The population will be 120 personnel drawn from NGOs, Civil Societies and government departments all across Somalia. Stratified sampling techniques will be used to select a sample of ninety-two respondents. This study will use primary data that will be sourced in two ways; by use of semi-structured questionnaires and interviewing. In this study, qualitative content analysis will be the main method of analysis of data since the information being sought is not quantifiable. Analysed data will be presented in form frequency distribution tables, pie charts and by use of graphical illustrations.