The benevolent elites and dutiful bureaucrats

[Che -Guevara]

Though nobody knows is what end game for Somalia's elites (assuming there is an elite group) in this long running conflict, I would like to pose question or perhaps throw an idea out there. Could Somalia benefit from having an elite class (who has no loyalty to Qabiil) that determines the matters of the state economically and politically from the behind scenes? The mass can manipulated in believing they have stake in the state matters through elections and also ensuring decent quality of life by means of economic and social development. The participatory nature of elections and economic well being could assuage their fears, and guarantee their loyalty to the State. But it is the elites that will choose the candidates that run for offices, and build the economic/political structure of the State.

 

The bureaucracy can established to carry the functions of the State, and build/maintain institutions that serve the public. Such bureaucracy must be educated to reasonable degree and should have upward mobility in terms of institutional governance. They should have decent income and other benefits that keeps them afloat. The presence of solid bureaucratcy would entrach institutions in people's mind. Bureaucracy would also maintain continuum of the state structure when there is change in leadership.

 

The success of dutiful bureaucratcy is the ability to serve the public purposefully and ability to recruit educated workers with discriminating.

 

Long story short, can Somalia benifit from benevolent elites and dutiful bureaucrats?

 

This has been tried in countries with varying degree of success, and can it replicated in Somalia, of course with Somali twist?

[Thierry.]

Elite

Public schooling -> Oxbridge Schooling -> Government or Commerce

 

Commoner

Government Schooling -> Polytechnic education -> Blue collar work

 

It’s a bad idea and not any different from tribalism, the elites prosper at the expense of disgruntled commoners who see the massive wealth generated by these fortunate minorities. One thing leads to another an opportunistic young military colonel seizes power dismantles the government and puts the elites back in exile.

 

Meritocracy is your way forward from past mistakes

[Resistance]

is Elitisim just another form of Dictatorship.

take the case of CUBA. Fidel is a dictator but is a 'social' type that makes sure the people come first,

[Che -Guevara]

^I'm not talking about socialism per se. Every elitism could be considered dictatorship since it is the elite that makes the final decision on most things.

 

Theiry...It depends on the elite's relationship to the mass, and where they believe in their interests lie. If they are all about maximizing their own interests without throwing a bone to the public..then obviously we will be disgruntled, and that creates room for 'revulationary' colonels'. But if the elite allows and provide a degree of economic oppurtunity and political freedoms, the masses are more likely to accept the system of governance that is put in place by the elite.

 

As far as meritocracy is concerned, it is difficult to apply to the elites, but we could demand it from bureaucracy which do the heavy lifting as far as the functions of the state are concerned.

[xiinfaniin]

^^I am with elites on this.

 

Some gaal called them long time ago: enlightened men.

 

Islamic literature calls them: ahlu xilli wal caqdi

[Thierry.]

I am all for it as long as it is not an impenetrable clique whose children and children’s children run Somalia behind curtains, for if that happens no matter how much you give the masses they will still be envious (most folk don’t have wisdom or long term memory).

[Che -Guevara]

^There will be room for protest and political reform without restorting to violence and bringing the state like we have done in 1991. There will also be economic oppurtunities that facilitate that help along those penetrate the elite.

 

Most importantly, the masses must be educated enough to be aware of their rights as well as their obligations to the state so people don't make rush decisions without comtemplating the consequences.

 

One could say there is symbiotic relationship between the classes..the key to that relationship is understanding that one group can't exist or progress without the other, but for this to happen the assumption that there are elites and the rest must be first acknowledge or accepted.