International conflict and revolutionary crisis on the Horn of Africa : indigenous potentials and patterns

Abstract

The Horn of Africa attracted widespread attention only recently, when, following the Ethiopian Revolution of 1974 and through the subsequent Ogad.en War (1977) and aggravation of the Eritrean Insurgency (1962- ), it became one of the major crisis areas of the world. Yet, little written work in the academic field is available to assist us in understanding the strategic situation of the region. Whatever meagre literature there is on this subject is focused on the region's strategic situation primarily in terms of global politics. Reference to the local milieu has been brief and casual. There has been little attempt made to relate the information in this regard to the present set of crises in any way other than in terms of a simple, cause-and-effect analysis. Neither has there been a real attempt to formulate out of this information, an indigenous pattern of strategic relationships through a theoretical approach. If there is such a pattern, it should be of use, not only in understanding the present situation on the Horn, but also in making projections in regard to its future.