Somalia Peacekeeping Analysis; Diplomacy Lab

Diplomacy Lab is an partnership between the State Department and various universities. Professors write bids for relevant projects, then spend the semester researching and writing policy briefs for various offices at the State Department. Students enroll in IS/PSCI 4034: Topics in Diplomacy Lab to earn 3 credits. Opportunities include participating in group research (with undergraduates, MA students, PhD candidates, faculty, and practitioners), publishing, and presenting in Washington D.C.

The Project:

The current political and security landscape in Somalia has been shaped in large part by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which has spent more than 10 years in the country. The mission has changed Somalia, but has also had a profound and complex effect on the countries taking part. Some troop contributing countries (TCCs) have strong domestic security considerations, including shared borders with Somalia. All TCCs derive varying levels of income from the support provided by international partners in order to take part in the mission. In 2014-15, the estimated income derived from EU salary payments was equivalent to 6% of Kenya’s total defense budget, and 131% of Burundi’s total defense budget . TCCs have paid a heavy price in casualties, which are often not publicly disclosed. The TCCs themselves have varied and complex domestic political situations, which range from democratic to highly autocratic. Why do TCCs choose to participate in AMISOM? How has participation in peacekeeping missions affected the domestic politics of TCCs? What are the risks to successful transition of security provision to Somali Security forces? What are the possible domestic effects of withdrawal of AMISOM TCCs?

Interested students should contact Chris Price chprice5@vt.edu or visit 119 Major Williams Hall.

All majors are welcome!