ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores the politics, policies, and processes of integration between the states of the Horn of Africa, as well as between this region and the global economy, through infrastructures, investments, and networks for what is usually labelled as economic development. It revolves around three main themes: the interplay of geographical scales, the coexistence and competition between different interests and approaches to integration, and the political role of the state in determining the outcomes of these processes. The book gathers contributions revolving around political change, authoritarianism and resistances in Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea, Kenya, Djibouti, Somaliland, and Somalia. It offers an illustration of how innovative the region can be in terms of producing new international norms and how challenging it remains for countries and international organizations to implement them.
