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The ASC library and Prof. Jan Abbink have together compiled this web
dossier to coincide with the DRPN-ASC conference entitled "Challenges and
Prospects of Democratization in a Zone of Conflict: Rethinking the Role of
Non-state Actors and International Development Partners in the Horn of
Africa" which was held in Leiden on Wednesday 14 December 2005. This dossier begins with background information about the
Horn of Africa Day
and then provides a list of titles on democratization, donor policy and
conflict management in the region. These titles, of books and articles
published within the last ten years, are based mainly on the ASC library's
collection. Each title links directly to the corresponding record in the
online catalogue, which provides details about the title as well as
abstracts of articles and edited works. The dossier concludes with a
selection of web resources.
- Background
- Bibliography:
Horn of Africa in general –
Djibouti – Eritrea –
Ethiopia –
Somalia - Sudan
- Selected web resources
For further information, please email us at
asclibrary@ascleiden.nl or phone
+31 (0)71 527 3354.
The Horn of Africa is a politically unstable region that has experienced
remarkable political experiments and notable donor-country attention,
especially in the sphere of democratization, governance, economic reforms,
and reforms of the legal system. The Horn – comprising Ethiopia, Eritrea,
Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan – has a wide diversity of peoples, climatic
zones, economic infrastructures and political traditions. Variously shaped
by colonial experiences and strong indigenous traditions of politics – e.g.,
imperial rule, sultanates, acephalous societies, local, clan-based
chieftaincies – it has been volatile and conflict-prone, especially over the
past century.
In 1991 radical regime changes occurred in Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Civil wars ended and transitional regimes were installed. In Djibouti and
Somaliland elections were held. Sudan has been the least marked by processes
of political liberalization since the early 1990s. This tide of change
initially brought hope and renewed commitment from donor countries, NGOs and
scholars that the Horn countries would be able to achieve, or at least
choose, the path towards meaningful democratic reform, and in its wake,
‘good governance’, in the sense of accountable, transparent and
participatory administration or public management. It was expected that,
most importantly, the new governments would be able to address the legacy of
conflict and restart development efforts in this region, which remains one
of the most impoverished and underdeveloped, even in a comparative African
perspective.
Numerous local NGOs have emerged and started operations, usually with donor
assistance. International NGOs and organizations (like the World Bank, the
IMF and the Africa Development Bank) have initiated major investments and
programmes to enhance the processes of political and economic
liberalization. European donor countries have offered help with the training
of national police forces, the reform of judicial structures, voter
education and practical support in the organization of elections. Programmes
to improve the area’s human-rights record, the individual countries’
educational systems and the involvement and training of women have also been
initiated.
Today, in late 2005, it may be time to take stock of the results of
democratization processes and efforts to date, and of the institutional and
financial support provided by the donor community. This is happening against
the backdrop of growing public discontent and the recent flare-up of violent
conflicts in the Horn. The Ethiopian–Eritrean war of 1998-2000 and the
resulting border stalemate, the ongoing Darfur tragedy, the insecurities
around the Sudanese peace agreement for the South, the tensions in Ethiopia
and the continued chaos in Somalia have deeply affected processes of
democratization across the region. In addition, the increased domestic
suppression of civil society and democratic tendencies, notably in Eritrea
since 2000 and in Ethiopia after the contested May 2005 elections, has
contributed to bringing the democratization process to an apparent
standstill.
Donor policies may have proven to be limited in their impact, and often also
very misguided, betting on the wrong horses out of Realpolitik, opportunism
and lack of in-depth analysis. It is relevant at this stage now to ask what
has been achieved, and at what levels. Questions can be asked about
democratization as a historical project and in how far it is shared in the
developing countries, about its conditions and its relationship with
economics and culture, about the links between democratization, stability
and security, and about the role of globalizing factors from outside the
region. In a more specific sense, the role and impact of international (not
only Western) NGOs is an important subject for debate, as well as the
relationship between democratic rights and gender, and the lack of attention
to the relatively large but marginalized population of pastoralists in the
Horn of Africa.
The literature on the above-mentioned subjects is voluminous, but often
ignored or little used. It is hoped that professionals associated with the
Horn in donor country policy, journalism, NGO activities and academic
research will find interesting and helpful contributions here. |
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Women in African development: the challenges of globalization and
liberalization in the 21st century Trenton, NJ. Africa World Press,
2005.
Humanitarian information systems and emergencies in the Greater Horn
of Africa: logical components and linkages / D. Maxwell & B. Watkins.
In: Disasters: (2005), vol. 27, no. 1, p. 72-90.
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The challenges of a society in transition: legal development in
Eritrea / Y. Gebremedhin. - Trenton, NJ ? Asmara : Africa World Press,
2005.
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Democracy and the role of Parliament under the Eritrean constitution
/ Bereket Habte Selassie.
In: North Carolina journal of international law and commercial regulation:
(1999), vol. 24, no. 3, p. 227-261.
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Democracy assistance to post-conflict Ethiopia. Building local
institutions? / D. Rahmato & M. Ayenew. - The Hague : Clingendael
Institute, 2004. - (CRU Working Paper 27)
Full text: http://www.clingendael.nl/publications/2004/20040700_cru_working_paper_27.pdf
The culture of power in contemporary Ethiopian political life / S.
Vaughan & K. Tronvoll. - Stockholm : SIDA, 2004.
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Civil society, NGOs, and development in Ethiopia: a snapshot view
/ J. Clark. - Washington, DC : The World Bank, 2000.
Full text:
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2001/01/26/ 000094946_01011305322369/Rendered/PDF/multi_page.pdf
International non-governmental organisations in rural development in
Ethiopia: rhetoric and practice / Tegegne Teka . - Frankfurt am Main :
Peter Lang, 2000.
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The potential for donor mediation in NGO-state relations: an Ethiopian
case study / W. Campell. - Brighton : Institute for Development Studies,
1996. - (Working Paper 33)
Stateless justice in Somalia: formal and informal rule of law
initiatives / A. Le Sage. - Geneva : Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue,
2005.
The heritage of war and state collapse in Somalia and Somaliland:
local-level effects, external interventions and reconstruction / Ismail
I. Ahmed & Reginald Herbold Green .
In: Third World Quarterly: (1999), vol. 20, no. 1, p. 113-127.
Full text:
http://journalsonline.tandf.co.uk/openurl.asp?genre=article&id=doi:10.1080/01436599913947
Peace-maintenance in anarchical Somalia / J. Chopra .
In: Peace-Maintenance: the evolution of international political authority. -
London: Routledge, p. 123-160.
No More Hills Ahead? The Sudan's Tortuous Ascent to Heights of Peace
/ Emeric Rogier. - The Hague : Clingendael Institute, Clingendael Security
Paper, August 2005, 150 p.
Full Text:
http://www.clingendael.nl/publications/2005/20050800_cscp_security_
paper_1.pdf
Designing an Integrated Strategy for Peace, Security and Development in
Post-Agreement Sudan / Emeric Rogier. - The Hague : Clingendael
Institute, CRU Occasional Paper, April 2005, 102 p.
Full text:
http://www.clingendael.nl/publications/2005/20050400_cru_paper_rogier.pdf
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Africa South of the Sahara, Countries: Horn of Africa
Guide to Internet resources on the Horn of
Africa, prepared by Karen Fung (Stanford University). Includes sections on
individual countries:
Djibouti,
Eritrea,
Ethiopia,
Somalia/Somaliland,
Sudan.
http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/horn.html
African Newspapers / Africa News (by country)
News section of Africa South of the Sahara, listing African newspapers
by country, including
Djibouti,
Eritrea,
Ethiopia,
Somalia, and
Sudan
http://library.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/current2.html
All Africa.Com: Recent News Summaries on East Africa
News summaries in English based on reports from the Pan African
News Agency (PANA), East African newspapers and news agencies, and other
sources
http://allafrica.com/eastafrica/bydate/
Djibnet Nomad's Land
Bilingual (English, French) web directory for Djibouti, Eritrea,
Ethiopia and Somalia, based in France. Sections: News and media; Art,
society and culture; Business and economy; Governments, institutions and
politics; Science and technology; Personal pages; Travel and tourism. Links
to radio/tv stations and Internet forums.
http://www.djibnet.com/
Horn of Africa
Collection of links to web resources on the Horn of Africa, by Sourcewatch,
a project of the Center for Media and Democracy, an independent, non-profit,
non-partisan, public interest organization founded in 1993.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Horn_of_Africa
Northeast African Studies
Journal on the Horn of Africa, published by Michigan State
University Press. Special issues 7/1 and 7/2 are
available for free download.
http://msupress.msu.edu/journals/neas/ |
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Printable version