The Horn of Africa

The Horn of Africa is a deeply troubled region engulfed in three interlocking crises. The first is a security crisis characterized by a range of devastating inter-state and inter-communal conflicts, including civil wars. The second is an economic crisis, evidenced by widespread debilitating poverty, chronic food insecurity, and frequent cycles of famines. The effects of the third - environmental - crisis are all too visible in the droughts, deforestation and desertification ravaging the region. What is more, these three crises are mutually reinforcing locking the region into a cycle of disaster. Conflicts contribute to poverty, which in turn intensifies environmental degradation, leading to scarcities which fuel further conflicts. In this clear and authoritative guide, Kidane Mengisteab explores the key drivers of instability in the Horn of Africa, suggesting structural and institutional changes that - if implemented - could help lift the region out of crisis. The Horn s complex crises must be tackled in a comprehensive manner. But, he contends, this can only be achieved if the causes of conflict are addressed head-on. Without peace, the region cannot resolve its economic problems, and nor can it develop the capabilities required to cope with environmental change. The Horn of Africa will be essential reading for students and scholars in conflict and security studies, as well as anyone with an interest in learning more about the dynamics of this troubled region

The Horn of Africa is a deeply troubled region engulfed in threeinterlocking crises. The first is a security crisis characterizedby a range of devastating inter-state and inter-communal conflictsincluding civil wars. The second is an economic crisis, evidencedby widespread debilitating poverty, chronic food insecurity, andfrequent cycles of famines. The effects of the thirdenvironmental - crisis are all too visible in the droughtsdeforestation and desertification ravaging the region. What ismore, these three crises are mutually reinforcing locking theregion into a cycle of disaster. Conflicts contribute to povertywhich in turn intensifies environmental degradation, leading toscarcities which fuel further conflicts. style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;" />style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;" />In this clear and authoritative guide, Kidane Mengisteab exploresthe key drivers of instability in the Horn of Africa, suggestingstructural and institutional changes that - if implemented - couldhelp lift the region out of crisis. The Horn's complex crisesmust be tackled in a comprehensive manner. But, he contends, thiscan only be achieved if the causes of conflict are addressedhead-on. Without peace, the region cannot resolve its economicproblems, and nor can it develop the capabilities required to copewith environmental change. style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;" />style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;" />The Horn of Africa will be essential reading for students andscholars in conflict and security studies, as well as anyone withan interest in learning more about the dynamics of this troubledregion

Abbreviations viMap of the Horn of Africa ixAcknowledgements x1 The Greater Horn of Africa: Hot Spot in the Global System 12 Conflicts in the Greater Horn 93 The Legacy of Empires 424 The State as a Source of Conflict 605 Failures of Governance and Nation-Building 846 Regional Instability and External Intervention 1117 Poor Resource Management and Environmental Degradation 1518 Prospects for Democracy, Integration and Stability 182Notes 209Bibliography 217Index 244