This paper argues that the superpower rivalry in the Horn of Africa has played a major role in the outbreak of the 1974 revolution in Ethiopia. It contends the existing narrative in Ethiopian school history textbooks, which asserts that the 1974 revolution was caused entirely by the internal political, economic, and social upheavals. In fact, the internal factors were heavy enough to cause the revolution. Yet, the external factor, in the Ethiopian context, has played a key role in triggering the internal movements. Additionally, the paper argues that, instead of being a blessing, the Horn of Africa’s geostrategic importance has remained a curse and source of strife and rivalry among the peoples and states of the region by attracting superpower competition and involvement.
The geostrategic importance of the Horn of Africa has made the region a major scene for superpower contention in the last preceding decades. Historically, three main events shaped the character of the relations between the Horn of African states and the superpowers. These were the Eritrean conflict (1941-1991), the Ethiopian revolution of 1974, and the Ethio-Somali war of 1978/79. The Horn of Africa has always been remained as a field of contest among the superpowers due to its geostrategic significance.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Geostrategic Importance of the Horn of Africa and Superpowers' Interest in the Region
- The Geostrategic Importance of the Horn of Africa
- Superpower Intervention in the Horn of Africa
- The Role of the Superpowers in Escalating Conflicts in the Horn of Africa
- The Superpowers in the Eritrean Conflict
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the role of superpower involvement in the Horn of Africa and its impact on the region's political and economic stability. It argues that the region's geostrategic importance, coupled with its economic backwardness and political instability, has attracted superpower competition and intervention, leading to prolonged conflict and instability.
- The geostrategic importance of the Horn of Africa and its role as a key location for trade routes and naval operations
- The impact of superpower rivalry on the region's internal affairs and the escalation of conflicts
- The role of the Soviet Union and the United States in providing military and financial assistance to their respective proxies in the Horn of Africa
- The detrimental consequences of superpower intervention for the region's human life, economic prosperity, and peace
- The specific case of the Eritrean conflict and its entanglement in superpower rivalry
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction highlights the historical context of the Horn of Africa, particularly the colonial era and the subsequent independence of its states. It emphasizes the region's geostrategic importance and its strategic location at the intersection of Africa, Europe, and Asia. The paper then delves into the historical events that shaped the relationships between the Horn of African states and superpowers, focusing on the Eritrean armed rebellion, the Ethiopian revolution of 1974, and the Ethio-Somali war of 1977/78.
The second chapter provides a detailed analysis of the region's geostrategic importance and its economic significance. The chapter explores the key sea lanes, ports, and natural resources of the region and their strategic value to superpowers. It also examines the motives and opportunities for superpower intervention in the Horn of Africa, highlighting the region's political conflicts, economic dependence, and the influence of revolutionary ideas from the Soviet Union.
The third chapter delves into the specific role of superpowers in escalating conflicts in the Horn of Africa, focusing on the Eritrean conflict. The chapter discusses the historical context of Eritrea's liberation from Italian rule, the United Nations' involvement in determining its future, and the East-West contention that emerged over Eritrea's fate.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The paper primarily revolves around the geostrategic importance of the Horn of Africa, superpower competition and involvement, the escalation of conflicts, the Eritrean conflict, the Soviet Union, the United States, the Cold War, regional instability, and the impact of foreign intervention on the Horn of Africa.
- Quote paper
- Yimegnutal Nibret (Author), 2023, The Geostrategic Importance of the Horn of Africa and Superpowers’ Interest in the Region. A Critical Review of Ethiopian school history textbooks, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1321630
