ABSTRACT

Critical Realism, Somalia and the Diaspora Community equips new researchers with a simplified knowledge of critical realism suitable to the degree of their comprehension. Moreover, it offers a step by step example of research using all levels of critical realism. This book resulted from the endeavour of a researcher, new to critical realism who, however, sought to apply all parts and phases of critical realism to his subject matter.

The book is divided into three parts: Part 1 provides an outline of the three phases of critical realism: original/basic critical realism, dialectical critical realism and the philosophy of metaReality. Part 2 presents a case study that applied critical realism as a research-theory framework. The case study explores the formation of the Somali Community Organisations in the UK and develops a retroductive model that outlines their role in engaging the Somali Diaspora Community with the issue of sustainability. Part 3 presents reflections towards the geo-historical study of Somalia and explains the origins of the civil war and the dispersal that resulted in the formation of Somali Diaspora Communities in different parts of the world.

This book will be of interest to Critical Realists, researchers on and in Africa, agencies interested in Somali affairs, researchers on diaspora and refugees, Somali Community Co-ordinators and local council authorities in the UK and Europe.

chapter 1|9 pages

Introduction

part 1|29 pages

Setting the context

chapter 2|10 pages

The theoretical context

chapter 3|17 pages

The geo-historical context

part 2|63 pages

The Somali Diaspora community in the UK

chapter 4|24 pages

Agency and sustainability

chapter 5|23 pages

The spatio-temporal formation of the SCOs

chapter 6|14 pages

Sustainability leadership learning

part 3|13 pages

Somalia, the Diaspora and the future