Shared interests govern regional relationships

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia address the media shortly after inspecting ongoing developments at the new 32-berth Lamu Port in Lamu County. .

Relations between neighbours, households or of countries can be amusing to study. Countries quarrel over small issues then engage in diplomatic hugging when their common interests come under threat.

If it is households or individuals, the study discipline concerned is either sociology or anthropology. When a researcher studies behaviour in his or her society, it is sociology. When the people under study are foreign and in presumed need of foreign control and governance, the study becomes anthropology.