Cross and the River: Ethiopia, Egypt and the Nile FROM THE PUBLISHER
"The ongoing Egyptian-Ethiopian dispute over the Nile waters is potentially one of the most difficult issues on the current international agenda, central to the very life of the two countries. Analyzing the context of the dispute across a span of more than a thousand years, The Cross and the River delves into the heart of both countries' identities and cultures." Erlich weaves together three themes: the political relationship between successive Ethiopian and Egyptian regimes; the complex connection between the Christian churches in the two countries; and the influence of the Nile river system on Ethiopian and Egyptian definitions of national identity and mutual perceptions of "the Other." Drawing on a vast range of sources, his study is key to an understanding of a bond built on both interdependence and conflict.
SYNOPSIS
Erlich (Middle Eastern and African studies, Tel Aviv U.) explores the longstanding dispute between Eqypt and Ethiopia over the Nile waters. The author develops three main themes: the political relationship between successive Eqyptian and Ethiopian regimes; the connection between the Christian churches in both countries; and the way in which sharing the Nile has affected perceptions of the other, and contributed to the formations of national identities of the two countries. He concludes with a discussion of Egyptian-Ethiopian relations today and possible directions for the future. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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