Eritrea, the newest nation-state in Africa, gained independence from the Ethiopian state after a prolonged and bitter conflict. Ruth Iyob provides the first comprehensive analysis of the country's political history over the past three decades. She explains the origins of Eritrean nationalism, and charts the development of its various nationalist movements, assessing the programmes and capabilities of the parties contending for power.

She also analyses the regional and international context within which the battles for independence were fought.