Book Review: The Real Politics of the Horn of Africa Money. War and The Business of power
This book presentation examines Alex de Waal’s *The Real Politics of the Horn of Africa: Money, War and the Business of Power*, which introduces the concept of the “political marketplace” to explain the dynamics of power and conflict in the region, where loyalty is exchanged for resources and money and violence become instruments of political bargaining. Drawing on de Waal’s extensive experience in Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia, the book explores political models across these countries, highlighting the role of oil, foreign aid and patronage in building alliances and managing conflicts. It also examines how this model weakens state institutions and prolongs violence, offering an alternative to conventional interpretations of politics and peacebuilding in the Horn of Africa while extending the “political marketplace” framework to regional and international dimensions.
