Short Abstract

The panel explores political violence in the Horn of Africa, focusing on its origins, current dynamics and future trends. The conveners invite scholars from any disciplinary background to contribute to an intersectional and cross-disciplinary debate on the nature of political violence in the region.

Long Abstract

The Horn of Africa has long been affected by political instability and violence. Political violence in the Horn of Africa is a complex phenomenon which requires intersectional and cross-disciplinary exploration. It can be observed through a prism of disciplinary and analytical approaches, each valuable in highlighting new dimensions of political violence, and together forming an increasingly wholesome body of knowledge.

Protracted political strife in the Horn, including the intertwined internal and external aspects of intra- and inter-state conflict, distinguishes it as one of the most conflict-affected African sub-regions. In today’s Horn of Africa, the prevalence of political violence and armed conflict contrasts with the efforts based on the commitment to territorial integrity and stability of states. The independence of Eritrea and South Sudan, and the Somali political entities, exemplify particular state instability that has been accompanied by persisting and resurfacing political violence.

The conveners of this panel invite scholars from any disciplinary background to explore and debate the nature of political violence in the Horn of Africa, with a focus on its origins, current dynamics, and future trends. We welcome both single-discipline and interdisciplinary contributions that seek to untangle the complexities of political violence and highlight its interconnections, examining the agency, state-society relations and cultural and identity factors at various levels. Through presentations of research findings and exchange of views, the attempt is to produce new knowledge on the dynamics of political violence in the Horn of Africa that also contributes to a more general understanding of politics and violence.

This Panel has 2 pending paper proposals.
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