Factors Affecting The Failure Of The "Scientific Socialism" Revolution In Somalia

In the late 1960 s,in order to realize the Indian Ocean strategy,the United States and the Soviet Union stepped into the "Horn of Africa" one after another.Somalia,with its special geographical location,became the target of superpower wooing.For the needs of the international situation and domestic situation,Siad Barre,the leader of the military government who came to power through a coup,chose the Soviet Union as an ally and embarked on the socialist road.With the help of the Soviet Union,Siad launched the "scientific socialism" revolution in politics,economy and diplomacy,and achieved certain results.However,due to the influence of Somali traditional society and the autocratic rule of Siad,more ills and social contradictions are gradually exposed.At this time,Siad,who tried to transfer domestic contradictions by realizing the dream of "Greater Somalia",took advantage of the opportunity of Ethiopian revolution to wage the Ogaden War.However,the Soviet Union,as an ally of Somalia,did not want to get involved in the whirlpool of this war.Faced with Somalia’s obstinacy,the Soviet Union finally gave up its alliance with Somalia and chose Ethiopia,which was more beneficial.The breakdown of relations between Soviet and Somali led to the defeat of the Ogaden War,and then changed the development path of Somalia.In fact,after the war,the "scientific socialism" revolution in Somalia also ended in failure.Based on the process of "scientific socialism" revolution in Somalia,this paper explores the reasons for the failure of this revolution.First of all,in terms of external factors,the international situation of U.S.-Soviet competition is intertwined with the regional situation of Ethiopia-Somalia conflict.The outbreak of Ethiopian revolution ignited the fuse of Ogaden War,and the subsequent development of domestic situation brought about the transformation of the alliance between the United States-Ethiopia and Soviet-Somali,which finally affected the outcome of this war and changed the development path of Somalia.Secondly,in terms of internal factors,deep-rooted colonial heritage left Somalia with political violence and differences between the north and the south.The clan politics inherent in traditional Somali society has once again become the tool of autocratic rule with Siad,using it to grab national resources and share power.Too much dependence on external aid from the Soviet Union made it difficult for Somalia to stand on its own feet,and once it lost foreign aid,it would be a complete failure.