Scope of the course
The Horn of Africa Course covers Ethiopia, the Somali regions, Eritrea, Djibouti, and northern Kenya. The social and political histories of each country in the Horn of Africa are examined to contextualise the continuities and transformations that are taking place across the region. A variety of disciplinary perspectives and new research is brought to bear on conflict, climate and environmental change, livelihoods, hydro-politics, gender, culture, migration and the challenges of foreign aid to build a holistic understanding of contemporary developments and crises afflicting the peoples of the Horn.
Highlights of the syllabus
DAY 1 Land, people, identities: Geography and environment; religions, nationalism and other -isms.
DAY 2 History: Continuity, Trends and Transformations in the Horn.
DAY 3 Contemporary Ethiopia and Eritrea: Political trends since 1991; the developmental state; post-Meles politics; foreign policy.
DAY 4 Contemporary Somalia, Somaliland, Puntland, Djibouti and northern Kenya: State and peace building; federalism and devolution; elections; al-Shabaab and refugees.
DAY 5 Borders, Migration, and Regional Dynamics: Borders and boundaries; population movements; diaspora and remittances; regional economic trends.
DAY 6 Development and Humanitarian Challenges: Humanitarianism; pastoralism; media; stabilization.
Core teaching staff
Laura Hammond PhD Co-Director of Studies
Department Head, Development Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies
Terrence Lyons PhD Co-Director of Studies
Professor of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University
Nimo-ilhan Ali
School of Oriental and African Studies, London
Rashid Abdi
Horn of Africa Analyst, International Crisis Group, Nairobi
Michael Woldemariam PhD
Assistant Professor, International Relations & Political Science, Boston University
Christopher Clapham PhD
Emeritus Professor, Politics & International Relations, University of Cambridge
Mark Bradbury
RVI Horn of Africa and East Africa Regional Director
Ken Menkhaus
Davidson College, North Carolina
Lealem Mersha
Independent Researcher
Hallelujah Lulie
Independent Researcher
Abdirahman Sharif
Director, Somalia/Somaliland NGO Consortium
Adan Abokor
RVI Representative, Somaliland
Lidwien Kapteijns
Wellesley College
