Politikon

War-Making without State-Building in the Horn of Africa?

The Horn of Africa, comprising Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan, has experienced prolonged and recurrent conflicts over several decades, and centuries prior to European colonisation. Although the scale and intensity of violence vary across countries, the region as a whole has been persistently affected by insecurity. These conflicts range from civil wars and interstate confrontations to terrorism perpetrated by extremist groups. They are rooted in complex historical, socio-economic, and political factors, and have been further exacerbated by overlapping intra-state and inter-state dynamics. These conflicts have been compounded by both regional and international interventions driven by competing economic, political, security, and strategic interests. It is against this background that we are pleased to invite abstracts of new, original and insightful scholarly work for the purposes of producing a special issue on this critical region's past and present politics.