Secessionist Politics and the Peril of Balkanization in the HOA: Balkanization in the Horn of Africa - Tapa blanda

The central tenets of this paper lie on explicating the fundamental drives that spurs secessionist politics and balkanization tendencies in the HOA. In line with this, the main thesis of the paper is pillared on elaborating the value of redefining state in reference to people’s will in lieu of sticking with the Westphalia sovereignty model that empowers territory over people’s consent. Moreover, the paper advocates the idealistic model and the human right approach towards the right of self determination. The paper begins with a description about the invented and historicized political socialization spear headed by few rentier elites to direct the minds of the great majority towards separatism. In addition to the forgery of mythic history, it analyzes the historical and conceptual relationship between colonial territorial readjustments for the invention of nation states and the rise of the aspirants of secessionism in the postcolonial HOA. Therefore, the paper explores how the tandem of territorial losses and gains inspires the fragmentary tendencies of the states under the right of exit. After a brief explanation about geographical setting and constituent sates of the study area

Wuhibegezer Ferede has obtained his first and second degree in History and cultural studies from Mekelle University. He has also obtained his Diploma in Theology from St. Frumentius Theological Seminary found in Mekelle, Ethiopia. Now he is teaching in Mekelle University at College of Social Sciences and Languages.