World War X / Alex De Waal

In 'The Real Politics of the Horn of Africa', Alex de Waal explores the complex interplay of politics, identity, and conflict across countries in the Horn of Africa. He examines how local power structures, regional rivalries, and international interventions shape governance and violence. The book highlights the roles of warlords, patronage networks, and economic interests in sustaining instability. De Waal argues for policy approaches that address political economy and local dynamics rather than relying solely on external military solutions. The book is aimed at scholars and policymakers engaged with East African security and development issues.

Alex de Waal's 'New Pandemics, Old Politics' traces two hundred years of responses to infectious disease, showing how political interests and institutions shape public-health outcomes. The book contrasts militarized, punitive, or exclusionary disease policies with alternative, community-based, and rights-respecting approaches. De Waal uses historical case studies to illustrate recurring patterns in how states and elites respond to epidemics and pandemics. He argues for strategies that prioritize public health, social protection, and democratic oversight to reduce harm. The work speaks to policymakers, public-health professionals, and historians interested in the intersection of politics and disease.