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KENNESAW, Ga. | Apr 18, 2025

What happens when the most educated and skilled citizens leave a nation in turmoil, only to return years later with new ideas and resources?

What happens when the most educated and skilled citizens leave a nation in turmoil, only to return years later with new ideas and resources? Mohamed Hashi, Ph.D. candidate in International Conflict Management, explores this phenomenon in his research, focusing on the Somali diaspora and their impact on post-conflict governance.

The conflict in Somalia began in the late 1980s. The resulting humanitarian crisis forced many Somalis to flee their homeland. Since the collapse of the government in 1991, international interventions to establish a lasting peace have not been successful. Recent efforts to rebuild have seen some success, but the nation remains fragile.

While there is ample evidence of the influence of diasporas in economic development, there is little research on their impact on post-conflict governance. Mohamed鈥檚 research aims to contribute a modest, early sketch of how the Somali diaspora elite is shaping post-conflict governance and broader state building efforts. 鈥淭he significance of this research lies in its potential to shed light on the ways in which diaspora elites shape post-conflict and fragile states,鈥�
Mohamed explains.

Mohamed鈥檚 background as a member of the diaspora and his travels to Somalia inspired his focus on this area of study, where he saw the significant involvement of the diaspora in the politics of post-conflict Somalia. 鈥淭here was deep hope among the people in Somalia that the diaspora would help rebuild the country in ways that avoided the conflict patterns of the past,鈥� Mohamed recalls. The diaspora was viewed as change agents by both locals and international partners, and Mohamed wanted to understand the agency and character of the diaspora elite and contribute to a broader understanding of their impact.

This engagement with the Somali diaspora led Mohamed to secure a book contract, thanks to the guidance and mentorship of his dissertation chair Dr. Volker Franke, and committee members Dr. Darina Lepadatu and Dr. Christopher Pallas. 鈥淭he article that formed the basis of the book contract originated from Dr. Lepadatu鈥檚 Qualitative Methods class,鈥� Mohamed says. Lepadatu provided guidance, helped Mohamed secure summer funding, and supported him in revising and submitting the article for publication. Dr. Lepadatu鈥檚 mentorship and Dr. Franke鈥檚 exceptional guidance were crucial in achieving this milestone. 鈥淭his achievement is a significant goal that justifies all the hardships involved and is rewarding for my committee, particularly my chair, who believed in the research鈥檚 potential,鈥� Mohamed says.

Mohamed feels incredibly fortunate to have had the unwavering support of his chair, Dr. Volker Franke, who possesses exceptional qualities as a mentor. 鈥淒r. Franke is non-dogmatic both methodologically and in terms of research agendas, focusing on the quality of one鈥檚 potential contribution rather than having a fixed notion of what constitutes quality research. He is incredibly patient with random and wild questions from Ph.D. students, allowing them to present their ideas and defend their research thoughts before arriving at conclusions.鈥�

Mohamed鈥檚 journey from a member of the Somali diaspora to a researcher in post-conflict governance exemplifies the transformative power of education and global connections. As he continues to explore the impact of the Somali diaspora, his research promises to contribute to our understanding of how displaced communities can become catalysts for peace and stability in their homelands.

- By Tracy Gaudlip

Photos by Darnell Wilburn