HomeOnline Political CourseLevel 3: Advanced Level

Level 3: Advanced Level

Regional and Global Perspectives

Eritrea and the Horn: Strategic and Global Studies

COURSE OVERVIEW

This advanced seminar examines Eritrea’s foreign policy orientation, strategic priorities, and global interactions within Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. Students will critically analyze regional alliances, conflicts, and diplomatic trends shaping Eritrea’s external relations — with an emphasis on sovereignty, Red Sea security, and global power competition.

Duration Language Format Assessment
🗓️ 8 Weeks 🗣️ English 💻 Weekly 90-minute seminar + research workshop ✍️ Analytical essays, case study presentation, and policy simulation
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of the course, participants will:

  • Analyze Eritrea’s geopolitical environment in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea basin.
  • Understand Eritrea’s foreign policy doctrines and strategic responses to regional dynamics.
  • Evaluate the impact of global powers (U.S., China, Gulf States) on Eritrea’s diplomacy.
  • Develop skills in policy analysis and strategic forecasting related to regional security.
  • Propose realistic policy recommendations for Eritrea’s future diplomatic engagement.
COURSE STRUCTURE Modules

Week 1 – The Horn of Africa: A Strategic Crossroads

  • Principles: Sovereignty, equality, and mutual respect
  • Non-alignment and pragmatic engagement
  • The 2003 Foreign Policy Framework: Vision and applications
Reading

Eritrea’s Foreign Policy Framework (2003); Selected speeches by President Isaias Afwerki on diplomacy and independence

Assignment:

2-page policy summary — “Core tenets of Eritrean diplomacy.”

Week 2 – Eritrea’s Foreign Policy Philosophy

  • The 1997 Constitution: participatory drafting and philosophical foundations
  • Constitutionalism, sovereignty, and the social contract
  • Comparative perspective: African post-liberation constitutions
Reading

Eritrean Constitution (1997); Tekie Fessehatzion, Eritrea’s Charter for Democracy

Assignment:

Write a 2-page brief on the political meaning of the 1997 Constitution

Week 3 – Eritrea and Regional Powers: Ethiopia, Sudan, and Djibouti

  • Historical ties, border dynamics, and conflict resolution
  • The Algiers Agreement (2000) and the Ethiopia peace initiative (2018)
  • Mediation roles and regional neutrality principles
Reading

Algiers Agreement (2000); Eritrea’s official communiqué on Ethiopia peace accord (2018); Tekeste Negash, Brothers at War (selected chapters)

Case Study:

“Eritrea’s diplomatic posture during the Tigray conflict.”

Week 4 – The Red Sea and Middle Eastern Geopolitics

  • Red Sea security and the competition for maritime influence
  • Eritrea’s relations with Gulf States: Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Yemen
  • The intersection of African and Middle Eastern politics
Reading

Eritrea and the Red Sea Region: Strategic Imperatives (Embassy Policy Paper); Gulf States Institute Report on Red Sea Rivalries (2020)

Discussion:

“Should Eritrea pursue a regional Red Sea security alliance?”

Week 5 – Eritrea and Global Powers

  • Eritrea–U.S. relations: From alliance to sanctions and beyond
  • Engagement with China, Russia, and the Non-Aligned Movement
  • The UN, EU, and the politics of human rights narratives
Reading

Embassy of Eritrea rebuttals to UN reports (2011–2024); U.S. Congressional Research Service Report on Eritrea; President Isaias’s UNGA addresses

Assignment:

Analytical essay (1,000 words) — “Eritrea’s global positioning: Challenges and leverage.”

Week 6 – Media, Information Warfare, and Soft Power

  • Global narratives vs. national image
  • The role of diaspora and digital diplomacy
  • Building alternative platforms for truth and regional dialogue
Reading

Ministry of Information, Eritrea: Narrative Sovereignty (2018); selected op-eds from Shabait and TesfaNews

Activity:

Group workshop — “Designing a public diplomacy strategy for Eritrea.”

Week 7 – Regional Integration and Pan-African Diplomacy

  • Eritrea and the African Union: Historical tensions and opportunities
  • IGAD, COMESA, and the politics of regionalism
  • Pan-African self-determination and reform advocacy
Reading

AU Charter on Peace and Security; Eritrea’s position paper on AU reforms (2019)

Discussion:

“Can Eritrea lead a new model of African independence diplomacy?”

Week 8 – Strategic Forecasting and National Interests

  • Future challenges: Security, economy, migration, and youth diplomacy
  • Scenario planning: Post-conflict Horn and multipolar world order
  • Course synthesis: from liberation philosophy to global agency
Reading

OPDA Strategic Briefing (2024); UNDP Red Sea Outlook Report 

Final Assignment:

Strategic policy paper (1,500 words): “Eritrea’s Foreign Policy in 2035 — Scenarios and Strategic Options.”

Assessment

Component Weight
Weekly participation and response papers 20%
Case study presentation (Week 4 or 5) 25%
Group public diplomacy project (Week 6) 25%
Final strategic paper 30%