Eritrea's External Relations: Understanding its Regional Role and Foreign Policy

There are few countries as misunderstood, or even unknown, as Eritrea, yet it has become vital to the stability of east and northeast Africa. Today, Eritrea is one of the most repressive and isolated countries in Africa, and indeed in the world. It has an undemocratic power structure, a low level of socioeconomic development, a highly militarized political system given increasingly to armed interventionism, and the tendency to disregard international opinion in the search for local solutions. It has fought wars with each of its neighbours, including a particularly devastating conflict with Ethiopia which remains unresolved, and has adopted a hostile stance towards the UN, the European Union and the United States. This Chatham House book, edited by Richard Reid, brings together the insights of international analysts and scholars in an effort to understand the nature of Eritrea's foreign relations, both regionally and in the wider international arena. Contents Introduction Richard Reid Eritrea's role and foreign policy in the Horn of Africa: past and present perspectives Richard Reid The EPLF/PFDJ experience: how it shapes Eritrea's regional strategy Dan Connell What has gone wrong with Eritrea's foreign relations? Kidane Mengisteab Eritrean-Sudanese relations in historical perspective Gaim Kibreab The Eritrea-Ethiopia conflict and the Algiers Agreement: Eritrea's road to isolation Redie Bereketeab Eritrea and the United States: towards a new US policy Dan Connell Hard and soft power: some thoughts on the practice of Eritrean foreign policy Sally Healy About the Author Richard Reid is Reader in the History of Africa at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Details Pagination: 166 Hardback price: £30.00 Hardback ISBN: 978-1-86203-200-2 Paperback price: £17.99 Paperback ISBN: 978-1-86203-201-9