STUDY Nation Building, State Construction and Development in Africa The Case of Eritrea ANDEBRHAN WELDE GIORGIS April 2010 n About fifty years after the end of the colonial era, the prototype postcolonial African state remains weak and lacking in legitimacy, delivery and relevance. Conflicts, underdevelopment and climate change continue to undermine the people’s wellbeing and degrade the human condition in much of the continent. The prototype state is dysfunctional, insecure and fragile. n Independent Eritrea’s experience to date evinces a marked deficit in democratic governance. Significant lapses have disconnected policy and practice in nation building, state construction and development. Nineteen years post liberation, the state in Eritrea, like the prototype post­colonial African state, is in deep crisis. It has failed to provide for the needs, promote the well­being, cater to the aspirations and safeguard the security of the people. It is characterised by a crisis of legitimacy, delivery and relevance. A dismal record has dashed hopes that Eritrea would avoid the continent’s malaise and shine as the inspiring beacon of an African success story. n Lack of democratic governance has weakened nation building, undermined state construc­tion, and subverted socioeconomic development. Eritrea’s record to date indicates more a duplication of than an exception to the general African experience. This has been a cause of profound disappointment to the vision of building a democratic and progressive Eritrea that stands out as a bright star in the African constellation. n An internally driven, dynamic and developing process of democratic governance would un­derpin successful nation building, state reconstruction and development in Eritrea and Af­rica. Proactive German engagement designed to promote peace and security, democratic governance and economic development would contribute to the success of an autonomous African project.