When Success Becomes a Liability: Challenges of State Building in Eritrea (1991-2005)

Author: Bereketeab, Redie¹

Source: African and Asian Studies, Volume 6, Number 4, 2007 , pp. 395-430(36)

Publisher: BRILL

Key:

- Free Content

- New Content

- Subscribed Content

- Free Trial Content

Abstract:

The article aims to discuss and analyze the post-liberation state building challenges in Eritrea. It interrogates how and why the promising start was transformed into a nightmare. It traces two sets of explanatory factors. The first is the political culture that was developed during the liberation struggle. A political culture characterized by centralization, hierarchy, collectivism, strong loyalty and discipline became an obstacle to state building and transition from a guerrilla to civilian governance. The second set of factors pertains to the second war with Ethiopia. The second war not only erased all the post-liberation achievements, but also plunged the nation into social, economic, and political structural and systemic crisis. To exist from this predicament would require emancipation from the political culture of the liberation struggle and smooth transition to a civilian democratic and constitutional governance system.

Keywords: ERITREA; STATE BUILDING; TRANSITION; DEMOCRATIZATION; LEGITIMACY

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1163/156921007X236963

Affiliations: 1: Almqvistgatan 14, 754 30 Uppsala, Sweden;, Email: redbereketeab@yahoo.com

The full text electronic article is available for purchase. You will be able to download the full text electronic article after payment.

$30.00 plus tax Refund Policy