The main aim of this thesis is to analyze how 'Eritrea's nationalism' and Eritrean self image as a State, in pre and post independence, has been affecting Ethiopian politics. As specific objectives, it aims to find out the main reasons and factors why Ethiopian politics has been used as an instrument by the Eritrean elites to achieve their own political and economic interests. This thesis, hence, could be significant in showing how external interests injected and promoted the idea of independent Eritrea and how this later came to be the problem child of Ethiopia. it tried to asses, describe and analyze the facts which are found in related to the sources and links of Eritrean nationalists and nationalist movement with especial emphasizes given to the EPLF and its strategy of manipulation of Ethiopian political groups and mercenaries as far as such groups can serve it to destabilize Ethiopia. The finding of this thesis clearly indicates that 'Eritrean nationalism' and its Quest for Independence were injected by external elements and shaped by internal multiplicity of factors. ...