Historical Sociology of State Formation in the Horn of Africa : Genesis, Trajectories, Processes, Routes and Consequences

This book analyses the historical sociology of state formation in the Horn of Africa. It examines the genesis, trajectories, processes, routes and consequences of the evolution of state formation. Three analytical and explanatory models explain the process of state formation in the HOA: proto-state, colonial and national liberation. The models, heuristically and innovatively, provide understanding, interpretation and analysis of state formation. While the proto-state model explicates an indigenous historical process of state formation, the colonial model refers to an externally designed and imposed process of state formation. The national liberation model concern state formation conducted under liberation movement and ideology. The distinct significance of these models is that collectively they generate sufficient analysis of state formation. They are also unique in that they have never been employed as aggregate analytical and explicative instruments to address the predicament of state formation in the Horn of Africa. Redie Bereketeab is Associate Professor of Sociology and Senior Researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute at Uppsala University, Sweden. His latest publications include: National Liberation Movements as Government in Africa (2019), and Alternatives to Neoliberal Peacebuilding and Statebuilding in Africa (2021). His research interest include political sociology, development sociology, African studies, conflict, peacebuilding, regional integration Preface 5 Contents 9 Abbreviations 10 List of Figures 12 1 Introduction: Challenges of State Formation 13 Introduction 13 Pathologies Hampering State Formation in the HOA 18 Interplay of the Pathologies 22 External Interventions 23 Conceptual Framework 27 Methodology 32 Theme and Organisation of the Book 34 References 38 2 Theories of State Formation 45 Introduction 45 Evolution of the State 49 Structural-Functionalist Theory 55 Institutionalist Theory 57 Social Contract Theory 57 Theories of the Origin of the State 59 Theory of the Colonial Origins of the State: The Bastard State 61 Diffusion Theory 65 Decolonisation as an Exercise of the Right to Self-Determination and State Formation 67 Conclusion 69 References 72 3 Proto-State Formation: Ethiopia 77 Introduction 77 A Brief History of Statehood: The Dynastic Origin of the State 80 The Emergence of the Modern State in Ethiopia 87 Haile Selassie: The Modernising Monarch 88 Military-Revolutionary Socialist State Formation 94 Rebellion, Ethnic Nationalism and Ethnic Federalist State Formation 97 Multiethnic State Formation Versus Ethnic Nationalist State Formation 99 Post-EPRDF and Post-Revolutionary Democracy State Formation 101 Ethnic Federalist State Formation Versus Civic State Formation 102 Conclusion 103 References 106 4 Colonial State Formation 111 Introduction 111 State Formation Under the Aegis of Colonialism 113 Consequences of Colonialism: State Deformity 120 Decolonisation: The Postcolonial State 123 Conclusion 127 References 129 5 The National Liberation State 133 Introduction 133 Protracted War and the Role of National Liberation Movements 136 Characteristics of the National Liberation State 140 Eritrea, South Sudan and Somaliland 144 Eritrea 145 South Sudan 149 Somaliland 155 Challenges of Post-Liberation State Formation 159 Conclusion 162 References 164 6 State Legitimacy and Government Performance in the Horn of Africa 169 Introduction 169 Sources of State Legitimacy 171 Definitions of Legitimacy 174 Conceptualising Legitimacy and Performance 176 Weber’s Trinity Theory 177 Social Contract Theory 178 Performance or Revolutionary Legitimacy 180 Government Performance 182 Horn of Africa: The Deficiency of, Obstacles to and Search for Legitimacy 183 Conclusion 189 References 191 7 Common Characteristics of the Three Typologies of State Formation: Synthesis 196 Introduction 196 Common State Functions 198 Centrifugal and Centripetal Forces Contesting State Formation in the Region 203 Conclusion 206 References 208 8 Conclusion 210 Introduction 210 Proto-State Formation 214 Colonial State Formation 216 Annexation and Voluntary Union as Deconstruction and Construction of State Formation 218 Institutionalisation 220 State Legitimacy 222 Globalisation Versus the Viability of the Western State Model 223 Conclusion 226 References 227 References 231 Index 251