The Horn Engaging the Gulf - by Aleksi Ylönen (Hardcover)

About the Book

An examination of the recent intensification of relations between the states of the Horn of Africa and the Gulf powers.

Book Synopsis

This book discusses theoretical perspectives of analyzing the relations between the states and non-state actors in the Horn of Africa and their counterparts in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East. Crucially, these relations are examined primarily from the perspective of the diplomatic, economic, and strategic agency of the African states and societal actors. Here, domestic political dynamics and local power play a significant role.

Aleksi Ylönen provides a historically informed investigation of recent relations that involve the Gulf States and Türkiye's resurgent interest in the Horn Africa. The analysis focuses on the post-Arab Spring period following the Iran nuclear deal and the war in Yemen. Featuring case studies from Ethiopia, Somalia, and Eritrea which highlight engagements of the Horn state and societal actors primarily with the Gulf States and Türkiye, the study provides an empirical analysis of the interactions and connections between the two regions.

Review Quotes

"The approach of the book fits well with recent trends in historical writing about colonialism, which has moved away from the idea of an all-powerful colonial state ... The book's central concepts deserve wider use in other regions to develop more realistic pictures of how states and those who contest them compete for external resources to advance their domestic agenda." --Africa Report

"Building on the relatively sparse contemporary literature on relations between the Gulf States and the Horn of Africa, Ylönen explores competition, lack of capacity, and power asymmetries spanning state, sub-state and non-state actors. His theoretical contribution which highlights agency within a competition rubric, as well as deep dive case studies including Ethiopia, Somalia and Eritrea, will be valuable to scholars working at all levels in this field." --Dr Robert Mason, Non-Resident Fellow, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington

"The perceptive and engaging book covers new ground at two levels. On the one hand, Ylonen presents critical new material on an important yet under-reported field: the economic and political interaction between two strategically-significant neighbouring areas: the Gulf and the Horn of Africa. On the other hand he emphasises dimensions of inter-state relations which have heretofore been underplayed. He moves away from a state-centric approach and emphasis the significance of domestic interest groups and actors in shaping relationships. A truly important contribution to the field." --Tim Niblock, Chair, Professor in the Institute of International and Area Studies, Tsinghua University, China; and Emeritus Professor of Middle East Politics, University of Exeter, UK

"This timely publication contextualises the contemporary presence of Middle Eastern and Gulf countries in the Horn of Africa ... [It] convincingly demonstrates the limitations of the realist paradigm when analysing the international relations of small and fragile states. Beyond its theoretical contributions, the book's empirical findings are a cause for pause concerning the nature of African countries' engagements with Gulf and Middle-Eastern states." --South African Journal of International Affairs

About the Author

Aleksi Ylönen is a Researcher at the Center for International Studies, Iscte - University Institute of Lisbon. He has held various academic positions and collaborated extensively with several research institutions in Europe and Africa. Aleksi has over two decades of experience in conducting research on politics and armed conflicts in the greater Horn of Africa and his work has been published widely in scholarly journals, books, and other scholarly outlets in various languages.