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The Eritrean National Service (ENS) lies at the core of the post-independence state, not only supplying its military, but affecting every aspect of the country's economy, its social services, its public sector and its politics. Over half the workforce are forcibly enrolled into it by the government, driving the country's youth to escape national service by seeking employment and asylum elsewhere. Yet how did the ENS, which began during the 1961-91 liberation struggle as part of the idea of the "common good" - in which individual interests were sacrificed in pursuit of the grand scheme of independence and the country's development - degenerate into forced labour and a modern form of slavery? And why, when Eritrea no longer faces existential threat, does the government continue to demand such service from its citizens? This book provides for the first time an in-depth and critical scrutiny of the ENS's achievements and failures and its overarching impact on the social fabric of Eritrea. The author discusses the historical backdrop to the ENS and the rationales underlying it; its goals and objectives; its transformative effects, as well as its impact on the country's defence capability, national unity, national identity construction and nation-building. He also analyses the extent to which the national service functions as an effective mechanism of transmitting the core values of the liberation struggle to the conscripts and through them to the rest of country's population. Finally, the book assesses whether the core aims and objectives of the ENS proclaimed by various governments have been or are in the process of being accomplished and, drawing on the testimony of the hitherto voiceless conscripts themselves, its impact on their lives and livelihoods. GAIM KIBREAB is Professor of Research and Director of Refugee Studies, School of Law and Social Science, London South Bank University. He is the author of Eritrea: A Dream Deferred (James Currey, 2009) and People on the Edge in the Horn (James Currey, 1996).

National service --- Alternative military service --- Service, Alternative military --- Service, National --- Public welfare --- Recruiting and enlistment --- Social service --- Draft --- Compulsory military service --- Conscription, Military --- Military conscription --- Military draft --- Military service, Compulsory --- Military training, Universal --- Selective service --- Service, Compulsory military --- Universal military training --- Conscientious objectors --- Youth --- Social conditions --- Eritrea --- Politics and government --- History. --- National Service --- Recruiting, enlistment, etc. --- Social aspects. --- Young people --- Young persons --- Youngsters --- Youths --- Age groups --- Life cycle, Human --- ʼArtrā --- Colonia Eritrea --- Dawlat Iritriyā --- Država Eritreja --- Dŭrzhava Eritrei︠a︡ --- Eartra --- Eiritré --- ʼÉretrā --- Èritrê --- Eritrea Riik --- Eritreako Estatua --- Ėritreĭ --- Eritrei︠a︡ --- Ėritreĭmudin Orn --- Ėritreĭy Paddzakhad --- Eritreja --- Eritrejský stát --- Eritreo --- Eritreya --- Eritreya Dövläti --- Ērtra --- Erythraia --- Érythrée --- Ėrytrėi︠a︡ --- Estado de Eritrea --- État d'Érythrée --- Government of the State of Eritrea --- GSE (Government of the State of Eritrea) --- Gwladwriaeth Eritrea --- Hagärä Ertra --- Hagere Ērtra --- Iritīriyā --- Iritriyā --- Kratos tēs Erythraias --- Provisional Government of Eritrea --- République d'Érythrée --- Staat Eritrea --- Stàir Eartra --- Stát na hEiritré --- State of Eritrea --- Stato dell' Eritrea --- Staturin Eritrea --- Steat Eritrea --- Κράτος της Ερυθραίας --- Ερυθραία --- Эрытрэя --- Эритрей --- Эритрейы Паддзахад --- Эритреймудин Орн --- Държава Еритрея --- Еритрея --- إرتريا --- إرتيريا --- دولة إرتريا --- Eritrea (Ethiopia) --- 1962-2099 --- analysis. --- case study. --- criticism. --- draft. --- government. --- history. --- international relations. --- liberalism. --- literature. --- political science. --- politics. --- social science.