Customer Reviews

Eritrea's War

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I am studying modern armed conflicts since 20 years and I am always looking for new sources, so I was greately interested by this book. I paid $16 for it, but after receiving it I immediately realised that I wasted my money. Here is why:

1. This is a VERY small book, in fact a small paperback. Only the first 60 pages are actually treating about the topic (war between Eritrea and Ethiopia 1998-2000), and without giving virtually any really interesting information. You can go to the public library, take the international edition of Newsweek from this three years, and in one afternoon You will find more about this war that in this book.

2. The rest of the book is actually a collection of some old articles and lectures by the author on Erithrea in general - this is actually quite smart recycling of old papers, but it doesn't give any more value to the book.

In conclusion, I frankly advise not to buy this - I lost my money, don't do the same mistake.

I understand that everyone carries their biases with them. Naturally Eritreans tend to support the liberation movement for Eritrean independence while Ethiopian scholars tend not to. This can also apply to positions on the last war. European or American scholars can tend to bend toward either position or camp too. This is also understandable. In both situations most authors that approach the subject attempt to present an objective and logical argument. Paul Henze abandons all signs of professional journalism or scholastic research. He presents a book that covers the war with an absolute Ethiopian bias. You will find here a presentation that even pro-Ethiopian scholars would cringe at. This book is JUNK!!!!!! and is better off in a personal blog somewhere.