Re: Somalia
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So before when there were articles coming out describing how crappy Somalia was, Somalia wasn't considered a fair example of AC. But now that someone writes something positive, it is all of a sudden fair game? Sorry guys, but you can't have your cake and eat it too.
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Oh boy, another Somalia post.
SB, you have a point here that there is some selective definition going on regarding Somalia in that, to the extent that things are generally bad in Somalia ACists are reluctant to hand their hat there, but to the extent that things are generally better there ACists may be eager to claim success.
The selectivism may not be as contradictory as you are suggesting though. We must differentiate between the level of "success" in the society and the change in the level before/after centralized government.
The level of succes in the society is low by most standards. I believe this level is constrained by the lack of resources and cultural attitudes in the region, and no level of government intervention, from 0 to complete, will "fix" this "problem" and make the society look appealing to a westerner who is used to what we have. In that regard, if the society is "hopelessly unsavable" to a westerner then observing the conditions in the society are "very bad" is neither a condemnation nor support for one system of another. However, observing that the removal of government has improved things does not mean that one thinks the improved product is "up to snuff" in the western sense, and is a valid observation that less government is good.
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