Abdi Ismail Samatar

Geography, Environment & Society

374 Social Sciences Building

267 19th Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Collegiate Affiliation

My research focuses on the relationship between democracy and development in the Third World in general and Africa in particular. At the moment, I am looking at the the link between democratic leadership, public institutions, and development in East and South Africa. Other themes in my research include Islam, social capital and ethnicity in the Horn of Africa, and environment and development. Finally, a general thread in my research is how national public institutions enable people in develping countries tap opportunity in the global capitalist economy and avoid its cruel traps.

Educational Background & Specialties

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Educational Background

Ph.D.: , University of California, 1985 - none
A.B.: , University of Wisconsin, 1979 - none
MCRP: Urban/Regional Planning, Iowa State University, 1981

Specialties

East and Southern Africa
Agrarian change
Botswana
Capitalist development
Development theory and the state
Environment and development
Ethiopia
Ethnic politics
Islamic world
political economy
Somalia
Third World

Publications

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Publications

. Framing Somalia: Beyond the Merchants of Misery (2022).
Africa's First Democrats: Somalia's Aden A. Osman and Abdirazak H. Hussen (2016). Indiana University Press, Samatar, Abdi Ismail, 2016.
An African Miracle: State and Class Leadership and Colonial Legacy in Botswana. Heinemann, Samatar, Abdi Ismail, 1999.
Faithless Power as Fraticide: Is there an Alternative in Somalia?: Samatar, Abdi Ismail, International Journal of Somali Studies, 9, 63-81, 2009.
Samatar, Abdi Ismail. The State and Rural Transformation in Northern Somalia, 1884-1986. . University of Wisconsin Madison, 1986.
. Bereft of Trust: Reflections on the Causes of the Somali Catastrophe. Bildhaan: International Journal of Somali Studies (2022), 22, 1-38.
The Dialectics of Piracy in Somalia: the Poor versus the Rich: Samatar, Abdi Ismail, Third World Quarterly, December 2010.
Ethnicity and leadership in the making of African state models: Botswana versus Somalia: Samatar, Abdi Ismail, Third World Quarterly, 18(4), 687-708, 1997.
Local Initiatives and Somali Reconstruction: Samatar, Abdi Ismail, Bildhan: Journal of Somalia Studies, 1, 107-134, 2001.
Social Transformation and Islamic Reinterpretation in Northern Somalia: The Women's Mosque in Gabiley: Samatar, Abdi Ismail, The Arab World Geographer, 3(1), 22-39, 2000.
The African State: Reconsideration. Ahmed Samatar, Samatar, Abdi Ismail, 2002.
Ethiopian Federalism: Autonomy versus Control in the Somali Region: Samatar, Abdi Ismail, Third World Quarterly, 25, 1131-1154, 2004.
Editoral of Somali Reconciliation: Ahmed Samatar, Samatar, Abdi Ismail, Bildhaan, 2003.
Fate Worse than Artificial Political Borders : Samatar, Abdi Ismail, South African Geographical Journal, 2019.
The Ethiopian Election of 2005: A Bombshell & Turning Point: Samatar, Abdi Ismail, Review of African Political Economy, 104/5, 2005.
The Islamic Courts and the Mogadishu Miracle: What comes Next for Somalia: Samatar, Abdi Ismail, Review of African Political Economy, Fall 2006.
Debating Somali Identity in a British Tribunal: The BBC Somali Service. Samatar, Abdi Ismail, 2007.
Back to the Future: Samatar, Abdi Ismail, BBC Focus on Africa Magazine, July-September, 34-5, 2008.

Activities

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Activities

Professional

Editorial Board, African Geographic Review Journal
Committee member, MacArthur Compton Fellowships
Graduate Education Policy
Editorial Board, Bildan: Somali Studies Journal
Member, Board of Directors of African Studies Association 2002 - 2004
Director of Graduate Studies 2005 - 2008
Chair, Department of Geography 2008
Editorial Board: Third World Quarterly

Outreach

TV Channel 5: Interview October 2002
Voice of America. TV Journal on Africa. Interview. September 13, 2002
Somali TV Minneapolis. Interview: Eldoret Reconciliation Conference November 17, 2002
BBC Somali Service. Interview: History of Reconciliation in Somalia June 28, 2002
PBS/NewsHour, Interview: Somalia's Union of Islamic Courts and the USA. May 6, 2006
BBC, Interview, June 7, 2006: Developments in Somalia.
Radio France International, Interview: Union of Islamic Court/Somalia/Terrorism. May 5, 2006
Australian Broadcasting Service, Interview: Somalia, Islam, and Terrorism. June 19, 2006
Al Jazeera, interview July 9, 2006
Al Jazeera, Interview April 9, 2007
Chair, Harmonization Committee of the Somali Charter: Somali Reconciliation - Independent Committee. Spring 2003
Al Jazeera: Interview. June, July 2010
BBC World Service February 2011
Member of the Somali Parliament, 2022-2026

Awards

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Awards

President's Award for Outstanding Service, University of Minnesota, 2018
Finalist, Herskovits Award for the best book onf the African Studies Association for2002. For "An African Miracle.", 2000
Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Support to Mogadishu University, 2018
Fulbright Scholar Award, 1993/4 and 1999
Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Teaching and Leadership in Community-University Collaboration, University of Minnesota, 1997
Design Achievement Award in recognition for substantial contribution to the field of Community and Regional Planning, Iowa State University, October 20, 2000
University of Minnesota Outstanding Community Service Award, 2004
Collegiate Teaching Award, University of Iowa 1989-90

Courses

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Courses

Geog 3145 - Geography of the Islamic World
Geog 3379 - Environment and Development in the Third World
Geog 5385 - Globalization and Development: A Political Economy Approach
Geog 3358 - Southern Africa: Beyond Apartheid
Geog 8302 - Research Development
Geog 8302: Proposal Writing