A Shift of Political Discourse: Critical Discourse Analysis of Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed’s Inaugural Speech

Muluken Asegidew Chekol

doi:10.11648/j.ash.20190505.13

Abstract

This paper explains the political discourse shifts made by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahemed’s April, 2, 2018 inaugural speech. P.M. Abiy`s inaugural speech is the text for this study analysis to extract the political and ideological discourse shifts observed in his speech. Mainly the analysis is done qualitatively through explaining a few excerpts of the inaugural speech. To substantiate the qualitative analysis, key word quantitative analysis is also applied. The analysis results show that Prime Minister Abiy made significant shifts of political discourse from his predecessors and Tigray People Liberation Front lead Ethiopian People Revolutionary Democratic Front (TPLF/EPRDF). The discourse shifts are observed in representing Ethiopian history, defining identity, and interpretation of pluralism in Ethiopia. For instance, P.M. Abiy portrays Ethiopia as a country of citizens whose identity is inseparable where as TPLF/EPRDF portrays Ethiopia as a country of nation nationalities whose identity is the sum total of different identities; the P.M claims for “Ethiopia first” rhetoric where as TPLF/EPRDF claims for “my ethnic first” rhetoric; P.M. Abiy aspires for a country of ideas but, TPLF/EPRDF has worked for a country of identities.

Highlights

Van Dijkin his part argues “political and ideological discourse analysis is usually based on individual discourses” [3]
The analysis shows the following shifts of political discourse resides in the P.M. inaugural speech: 1. The results of the analysis have shown that the main ideological underlined assumptions of P.M
Ethiopians identity is narrated from the orientation of the pre-Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF)/EPRDF discourses, from the perspective of creating sense of strong nationality, citizenship, and from the orientation of one country and one people discourses

Summary

Introduction

The Derg military regime devastated the long built tradition of political economy of Ethiopia to place socialism ideology which is unfamiliar to Ethiopian psychology, moral, thinking and religious doctrines. Following that the Tigray People Liberation Front led Ethiopian People Revolutionary Democratic Front (TPLF/EPRDF) took power in 1991 after nearly two decades civil war with the Derg regime. Proceeding to a wide range of Ethiopian youth political opposition movement, the last prime minster 2 , Hailemariam Desalegn, who was serving under the hegemonic TPLF/EPRDF resigned in March 2018 This remarkable period gives an opportunity to start a new political reform in the country. Abiy Ahemd, who is considered to be the reform champion, came to power and vowed as the prime minster of the country on April, 2, 2018 This day and onwards, a different political discourse has been presented in Ethiopia. From the very day of his inaugural speech, the primer spoke differently, away from the traditional rhetoric the TPLF/EPRDF regime has Muluken Asegidew Chekol: A Shift of Political Discourse: Critical Discourse Analysis of Ethiopian Prime Minister

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion