Description
This paper explores Somali liberation philosophies as a distinct school within Black and African political thought, focusing on how key concepts in international relations, such as self-determination and sovereignty, are re-imagined beyond conventional liberal frameworks. By situating Somali liberation movements in Ethiopia within broader transnational decolonial movements, this study examines how they challenge and redefine notions of autonomy and statehood. Unlike traditional liberal internationalism, which often confines self-determination within rigid state-centric boundaries, Somali liberation philosophies push for a conception of sovereignty that is both rooted in communal agency and indigeneity. Furthermore, this paper engages with the ways in which Somali liberation figures confront local and global power dynamics, offering a critique of the structural hierarchies embedded in the international order. The intellectual and political endeavor to understand, resist, and transform state-centric notions of sovereignty and self-determination is central to Somali liberation philosophies. This study pushes the boundaries of international studies by positioning African political thought as essential to reimagining the foundational principles of liberal internationalism.
