Includes bibliographical references

Foreword: Isaias Afwerki's declarations are in violation of Eritrea's sovereignty / Bereket H. Selassie -- Pillars of Eritrea's sovereign statehood: a book writing project / Bereket H. Selassie -- The historical basis of Eritrea's sovereign statehood / Awet T. Weldemichael & Samuel Emaha Tsegai -- The legal basis of Eritrea's sovereign statehood / Bereket H. Selassie -- Eritrea: poor people in a wealthy country / Assefaw Tekeste -- A nation with a museum of peoples: from the central and northern highlands to the western and eastern lowlands / Mohamed Kheir Omer -- The rise and fall of the ELF and formation of Eritrean nationhood / Anghesom Atsbaha & Ghirmai Negash -- Three decades of authoritarianism: challenges on Eritreanism, national identity and sovereignty / Daniel Teklai -- Whither Eritrea: nationhood, dictatorship, and the struggle for a democratic Eritrea / Ismail Omar-Ali -- Conclusion / Bereket H. Selassie -- Appendix

"The chapters contained in this volume explore the various political and social pillars that support Eritrean nationhood and sovereignty. These pillars of thought and action are a national imperative of which every Eritreans must be constantly reminded of. The contributors to this volume are waging an intellectual struggle, similar to the thirty years of guerrilla warfare that secured Eritrea's independent statehood and sovereignty." -- Provided by publisher.