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9780190669591

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[Plaut] is well placed to tell Eritrea's modern story and does so masterfully EL Throughout he condenses disparate material into tight and accessible prose EL Plaut's valuable book has at least ensured that, despite the regime's best efforts, this country is not fully hidden from view. -- Times Literary Supplement The second wave of refugees arriving in Europe includes those fleeing this tiny nation of around 6 million people . . . Yet Eritrea is not in a state of war. Their flight is driven by the decree mandating active military service for all 18-40 year olds. . . . Martin Plaut offers a lucid, readable exploration of this little-known crisis. -- Le Monde Diplomatique An outstanding insider's analysis of the continent's most noteworthy example of political repression . . . Understanding Eritrea is a sobering, incisive analysis, replete with detail not readily available elsewhere. . --Choice, Oustanding Academic Title A masterful account . . . Plaut's extensive evidence shows how the regime's repressive stance in power is a consequence of its ruler. -- Times Higher Education This unflinchingly honest book provides a mass of valuable information and an essential guide to Africa's most secretive state.' -- Christopher Clapham, Centre of African Studies, University of Cambridge An accessible handbook on the causes and consequences of dictatorship in Eritrea -- where it came from, how it works and how it got that way. Written with the voice and sweep of a journalist, the book offers short but trenchant summaries of Eritrea's regional relations, its internal political and economic structure, the plight of its refugees, the continuing role of its extensive diaspora, and a road map of its deeply fractured and largely ineffective opposition. Yet Plaut, like many who have followed this remarkable if frustrating new nation, holds out hope that brighter days lie ahead, once the interminable conflict with Ethiopia is resolved and Eritrea's people are free to take back their country. -- Dan Connell, Visiting scholar, African Studies Center, Boston University Despite its huge export of refugees, second only to Syria, Eritrea remains an enigma to most. Unravelling many of its mysteries, Understanding Eritrea offers an illuminating, timely and in-depth insight into a country whose secretive regime and mass exodus are beginning to hit the headlines. An absorbing read which deserves attention. -- Neil Carrier, Lecturer in African Anthropology, Oxford University; author of Little Mogadishu: Eastleigh, Nairobi's Global Somali Hub Eritrea, considered to be Africa's most secretive and censored state, appears as an enigma to many outsiders. Martin Plaut, a long-time observer of this tiny Horn of Africa nation, has written an eye-opener of a book explaining this troubled nation and unveiling its politics. An essential read. -- Kjetil Tronvoll, Senior partner, International Law and Policy Institute Most know Eritrea through its many refugees. Few have had an opportunity to visit. This book explains how a crisis developed and why it needs to be solved. Compelling, accessible and authoritative, this a much-needed handbook on one of the world's most secretive states. -- Mirjam van Reisen, Professor in International Relations, Tilburg University Himself one of the veteran Eritrea observers from his BBC days . . . Plaut has again come out with valuable reading . . . for all those interested [in] better understand[ing] Eritrea and its unending woes. The book makes a sweeping coverage of history . . . [and] surprises many a reader by putting more light on information not fully known to the 'experts' . . . And all this in not more than 250 pages! -- Woldeyesus Ammar, Eritrean People's Democratic Party

[Plaut] is well placed to tell Eritrea's modern story and does so masterfully EL Throughout he condenses disparate material into tight and accessible prose EL Plaut's valuable book has at least ensured that, despite the regime's best efforts, this country is not fully hidden from view. -- Times Literary Supplement The second wave of refugees arriving in Europe includes those fleeing this tiny nation of around 6 million people . . . Yet Eritrea is not in a state of war. Their flight is driven by the decree mandating active military service for all 18-40 year olds. . . . Martin Plaut offers a lucid, readable exploration of this little-known crisis. -- Le Monde Diplomatique An outstanding insider's analysis of the continent's most noteworthy example of political repression . . . Understanding Eritrea is a sobering, incisive analysis, replete with detail not readily available elsewhere. .--Choice, Oustanding Academic Title A masterful account . . . Plaut's extensive evidence shows how the regime's repressive stance in power is a consequence of its ruler. -- Times Higher Education This unflinchingly honest book provides a mass of valuable information and an essential guide to Africa's most secretive state.' -- Christopher Clapham, Centre of African Studies, University of Cambridge An accessible handbook on the causes and consequences of dictatorship in Eritrea -- where it came from, how it works and how it got that way. Written with the voice and sweep of a journalist, the book offers short but trenchant summaries of Eritrea's regional relations, its internal political and economic structure, the plight of its refugees, the continuing role of its extensive diaspora, and a road map of its deeply fractured and largely ineffective opposition. Yet Plaut, like many who have followed this remarkable if frustrating new nation, holds out hope that brighter days lie ahead, once the interminable conflict with Ethiopia is resolved and Eritrea's people are free to take back their country. -- Dan Connell, Visiting scholar, African Studies Center, Boston University Despite its huge export of refugees, second only to Syria, Eritrea remains an enigma to most. Unravelling many of its mysteries, Understanding Eritrea offers an illuminating, timely and in-depth insight into a country whose secretive regime and mass exodus are beginning to hit the headlines. An absorbing read which deserves attention. -- Neil Carrier, Lecturer in African Anthropology, Oxford University; author of Little Mogadishu: Eastleigh, Nairobi's Global Somali Hub Eritrea, considered to be Africa's most secretive and censored state, appears as an enigma to many outsiders. Martin Plaut, a long-time observer of this tiny Horn of Africa nation, has written an eye-opener of a book explaining this troubled nation and unveiling its politics. An essential read. -- Kjetil Tronvoll, Senior partner, International Law and Policy Institute Most know Eritrea through its many refugees. Few have had an opportunity to visit. This book explains how a crisis developed and why it needs to be solved. Compelling, accessible and authoritative, this a much-needed handbook on one of the world's most secretive states. -- Mirjam van Reisen, Professor in International Relations, Tilburg University Himself one of the veteran Eritrea observers from his BBC days . . . Plaut has again come out with valuable reading . . . for all those interested [in] better understand[ing] Eritrea and its unending woes. The book makes a sweeping coverage of history . . . [and] surprises many a reader by putting more light on information not fully known to the 'experts' . . . And all this in not more than 250 pages! -- Woldeyesus Ammar, Eritrean People's Democratic Party

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Martin Plaut, the BBC World Service's former Africa Editor, has published extensively on African affairs. An adviser to the Foreign Office and the US State Department he is Senior Researcher at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies.

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