Democracy In Ethiopia Research Articles

Indigenous Governance Systems and Democracy in Ethiopia: Yejoka Qicha System of the Gurage People

Indigenous governance systems within the Eastern African nation of Ethiopia are often dismissed by Western political elites as undemocratic. We assessed the nature of and level of democracy in Indigenous governance systems in Ethiopia by focusing on the Yejoka Qicha of the Gurage people. We found that, while the Yejoka Qicha system includes democratic elements that can support national efforts to consolidate democracy, it also marginalizes some groups, such as women, from political and economic benefits. As such, we recommend the implementation of policies that eliminate the oppressive aspects of the Yejoka Qicha system, while also recognizing the role that these Indigenous governance systems can have in promoting democracy within Ethiopia.

Creeping Towards Multicultural Federalism in Contemporary Ethiopia: Assessing the Legal and Political Complicatedness

From 1991 onwards federalism has been introduced as the best option of governance to ensure constitutionalism and democracy in Ethiopia in particular and in the Horn of Africa in general for the first time in history. Despite this fact, currently there are numerous political parties, Liberation Fronts, and governments, basing their political questions on quest for federation, unification, and secession (Independence) in Ethiopia. As a result of these divergent political questions; ethnic conflicts, inter-state and intra-state conflicts, rampant corruptions, and poverty are still remained as a brand of Ethiopia in particular and in the Horn of Africa in general. Consequently, the Horn of Africa, in which Ethiopia is considered as the center is globally known as a center of crisis. Accordingly, Ethiopia has been suffering from the prevailing contending political ideologies, legal, and practical problems; though she has been introducing and practicing multicultural federalism as her state structure since 1991. Hence, this research has the objective of analyzing the prevailing legal and political challenges against the present-day Ethiopian multicultural federalism. Consequently, as its research methodology; this research has employed: critical legal and political analyses, historical interpretations of multicultural federalism in Ethiopia and beyond, document analyses, observation and personal experiences of the researcher. Therefore, it has utilized a qualitative research method. Consequently, the findings of this research has pointed out that there is a legal, political, and practical problems in order to ensure genuine multicultural federalism in the present-day Ethiopia. Keywords: Constitutionalism, Ethiopia, Federalism, Law, Politics DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/109-02 Publication date: May 31 st 2021

A Beginning from Dead End: Consolidating Achievements and Making Smooth Transition to Democracy in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has been experiencing extreme and repeated mass protests, uprising and society-government relationship crisis over the past two to three decades. The absolute dominance of a single vanguard party, EPRDF as well as the absence of fair representation of Ethiopian nations, nationalities and peoples at federal institutions resulted power dominance by single ethnic group, deterioration of institutions and political opposition. After many sacrificed their lives, new chapter is opened that new leadership came to the position of prime minister as a measure of how the EPRDF tried to convince Ethiopians that it is renewing itself. The new leadership started taking reforms. The reforms introduced by the new leadership were unthinkable not so long ago. However, as reforms started, different challenges are obstructing it. This study shows that the current Ethiopian condition requires going forward and strongly firm on securing rule of law and justice. Finally, if Ethiopia is going to be surviving as a state in the future, it highly demands encouraging the existing reform through institutionalizing hand in hand with democratic federalism; otherwise it is impossible to bring national unity and stability. Key w ords : Protest, Reform, Ethiopia, Transition to Democracy, Revolution in Ethiopia DOI : 10.7176/IAGS/74-04 Publication date :July 31 st 2019

Public Sphere, Rationality and the Limits of the Federal Experiment in Ethiopia

In the multiethnic polity of Ethiopia, the practical realization of federalism in Ethiopia has been characterized by ethnic conflicts, manufacturing of difference and the abandoning of the grand narrative of Ethiopian unity. In this paper, using the notion of a public sphere as a space for public discourse and rationality from critical theory, I argue that the federal experiment in Ethiopia could only grow in the background of a public sphere that sustains a critical societal practice. Ethiopians could only engage in a common quest for societal progress and refinement, when they have a free and autonomous public sphere. This space serves as a platform for reflecting on the contradictions in Ethiopian modernity and also existential problems in the country. Such an effort to evolve a public sphere as a foundation for democracy could have foundations in the different precursors of Ethiopian modernity like Dekike Estifanos, hatata of Zera Yacob and writings of Negadras Gebrehiwot and Hiruy Woldeselassie. It could also be situated on new forms of public sphere like social media and their role in fostering democracy in Ethiopia.

Book Review: Semahagn Gashu Abebe, The Last Post-Cold War Socialist Federation: Ethnicity, Ideology and Democracy in Ethiopia

Book Review: Semahagn Gashu Abebe, <i>The Last Post-Cold War Socialist Federation: Ethnicity, Ideology and Democracy in Ethiopia</i>

An Examination Of Ethiopia’s Anti -Terrorism Proclamation On Fundamental Human Rights

Since the enactment of Ethiopia’s Proclamation on Anti-Terrorism in August 2009, at least11 journalists have been convicted, each sentenced to at least 10 years imprisonment. There are concerns that the proclamation limits the right to freedom of thought, opinion and expression, provided for in Ethiopia’s Constitution. Through the lens of the right to freedom of thought, opinion and expression, the paper argues that Ethiopia’s Anti-Terrorism Proclamation violates the human rights of people within its jurisdiction. It finds that there is a real potential for the state to crack down on political dissent in governance and curtail the growth of democracy in Ethiopia.

Rewriting Oromo History in the North: Diasporic Discourse about National Identity and Democracy in Ethiopia

This article analyzes the way the Oromo intellectuals living in diaspora have reflected on and positioned themselves in the ethno-political conflict and related debate between the dominant Amharic- and Tigrinya-speaking “Abyssinian” groups and the descendants of the various Oromo groups, which were conquered by the former during the nineteenth century. Even though they are the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia, a large part of the Oromo perceive themselves as discriminated against and exploited by the groups holding political power, and many have fled the country. In the debate, the Oromo diaspora has had an important role. Theoretically, the article takes off from the concept of “orientational frame” launched by Kevin Gillan, which is developed further with support from postcolonial theory, particularly Arjun Appadurai’s discussion about “ideoscapes.” A key research question is whether diaspora intellectuals are what Homi Bhabha calls “strategic intellectuals” who provide resources for postcolonial discourse and practice that surpass the traditional claims to representation and objectivity made by the dominant discourse. Can they come up with an alternative space that does not merely revise or invert the dualities, but reconsiders the ideological bases of division and difference? The article is based on twenty-two individual interviews with members of the Ethiopian diaspora in the Nordic countries and representatives of academic institutions and non-governmental organizations in Ethiopia, participant observation in three ethnic identity-based culture and history workshops organized in Europe, and selected research papers and books published by key members of the diaspora.

Ethnic Politics and its Effect on Democracy in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is a multi-ethnic nation with cultural differences between its component ethnic groups. From the north to the south, the range in types of social system, dress, diet and languages far exceeds that to be found elsewhere in the world. This diversity has resulted into two major problems namely: conflict between ethnic groups and the hostility that derives from competition between people for wealth and power. Since EPRDF controlled the power throne in 1991, there are extreme conflicts among different Ethnic groups. EPRDF has been using boldly ethnicity to stay on power by creating conflicts among ethnic groups and to manipulate, to oppress, persecute, revenge, and disappearance of people who stand against the EPRDF propaganda. EPRDF higher officials and prominent figures are the main calibrates in creating conflicts between ethnic groups to assure continuation of the regime. This paper examines ethnic politics and its effect on democracy in Ethiopia.

Foreign Aid and Its Impact on Democracy in Post-1991 Ethiopia

Ethiopia is an aid-dependent Horn of African country that is known to have received various forms of assistance, especially the humanitarian one. With the Cold War getting over, the country started receiving democracy assistance being pledged to realize democratic ideals. This article is concerned with foreign aid and its impact on democracy in Ethiopia in the post-1991 period. Its overall objective is thus to explore issues pertaining to the impact of foreign aid on Ethiopia’s democratization drive in the stated period. To substantiate my explanations and analyses, both primary and secondary data are used once generated through key informant interviews and document analysis. In this article I argue that issues of ideology, sovereignty, national interest, and geopolitics have significantly challenged democracy assistance in Ethiopia in the post-1991 period. I also contend that weak rules and laws, corruption, and weak mechanisms that govern relations between the Ethiopian government and donors have had a negative impact on foreign aid in the country. The study concludes that the contribution of foreign aid in fostering democracy in Ethiopia in the post-1991 period has been negligible in spite of the fact that an institutionalized form of democracy assistance, which is currently provided by the Democratic Institutions Program (DIP) to some governmentally established institutions, underscores the evolving face of democracy assistance in Ethiopia, albeit it is criticized by some for favoring governmental institutions at the expense of non-governmental organizations.

Equilibrium on Diversity and Fragility : Civic and Ethical Education Textbooks in Democratizing Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, which consists of diverse ethnic and cultural groups, the maintenance of unity as a country is an issue of serious concern. Civic and Ethical Education (CEE) is considered as an important means to ensure the rule of a fragile-based government, which emerged after a long period of monarchy and dictatorship in the multiethnic society. This paper disentangles the logics of democracy in Ethiopia by analyzing the secondary school CEE textbooks. In these textbooks, democracy is explained in close relationship with the control of power and tolerance. While the development of patriotic citizenship is desirable, loyalty to a particular ethnic group is strictly discouraged. The concept of democracy is also used to condemn the past autocracy, which suppressed the rights of citizens, and to justify the current regime.

Economic Education: A Requirement For Building A Free Market Economy And A Liberal Democracy In Ethiopia

This essay presents the case for a national campaign of economic literacy in Ethiopia. It argues that given the lack of opportunities for exposure to a properly functioning market economy or for formal training in economic principles, Ethiopians tend to be predisposed to accepting and/or seeking guidance from government regulators as though that is the natural or only way to proceed in their business and personal choices. This state of affaires is a key reason for the state of abject poverty Ethiopians have had to live in for generations. The paper proposes a two track program of economic education to free the creative talents of the people of Ethiopia from the shackles of regulation. Such a program, it is argued, is a necessary although not a sufficient condition for the Ethiopian economy to bust loose from its prolonged state of paralysis. Economic education which helps let citizens be free from bureaucratic regimens to dream and to take calculated risk in the pursuit of their economic and financial ambitions will also make significant contributions towards expanding the scope for personal freedoms in other dimensions of life in Ethiopian.

Diversity and democracy in Ethiopia

This paper, which sees democracy as an incremental habituation of a political culture that societies with modern economy entertain, argues that Ethiopia's current politics can only be understood as a transition from a totalitarian to a democratic culture. However, the transition to full-fledged liberal democracy is struggling to overcome two hurdles: the absence of a formidable middle class and the prevalence of a tenuous national identity. Even if liberal democracy appears a distant dream, the current hybrid political culture will not allow the country to backpedal to a blatant authoritarianism. The political culture, which is undergoing a permanent change, is en route to liberal democracy, albeit incrementally.

Ethnic Federalism, Fiscal reform, Development and Democracy in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has embarked upon what it claims to be a novel experiment in 'ethnic federalism'. The ruling Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front has asserted that it is intent on forthrightly addressing the claims of ethnic groups in the country of historic discrimination and inequality, and to build a multi-ethnic democracy. The essay critically assesses this effort, concentrating on the emerging relations between the federal and regional state governments. Particular attention is given to the strategy of revenue sharing as a mechanism for addressing regional inequities. Where appropriate, comparisons are made with the federal system in Nigeria, Africa's most well-known federal system. The article concludes that, while there may be federal features and institutions normally found in democracies, Ethiopia has not constructed a system of democratic federalism. Moreover, rather than empowering citizens at the grassroots level, Ethiopia tightly controls development and politics through regional state governments, with very little popular decision making in the development process.

Regionalism and democracy in Ethiopia

ABSTRACT For centuries Ethiopia's rulers have attempted to overcome local bases of power and establish a strong central government. To the extent that this was achieved, it produced many largely ethnically based rebellions which plagued the country until the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front's victory in 1991. The new government, which had its origins in an ethnically based revolt opposed to the hegemonic position of the Amhara in Ethiopia, appears committed to devolving power to regional ethnic governments and has even granted them the right to independence. This article examines the background to this process, critically discusses constitutional provisions regarding national self-determination, and provides an overview of the experience of the regional governments and the role and obstacles they face in moving long-authoritarian Ethiopia towards democracy. Ethiopia's experience is thus instructive to other states in Africa contemplating or undergoing programmes of decentralisation.

The 1994 Election and Democracy in Ethiopia by Siegfried Pausewang Oslo, Norwegian Institute of Human Rights, 1994. Pp. vi+82. NOK 25.00 paperback. - The Generation: the history of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party. Part I, From the Early Beginings to 1975 by Kiflu Tadesse Silver Spring, MD, Independent Publishers, 1993, distributed by The Red Sea Press, Trenton, NJ. Pp. ix+266.

The 1994 Election and Democracy in Ethiopia by Siegfried Pausewang Oslo, Norwegian Institute of Human Rights, 1994. Pp. vi+82. NOK 25.00 paperback. - The Generation: the history of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party. Part I, From the Early Beginings to 1975 by Kiflu Tadesse Silver Spring, MD, Independent Publishers, 1993, distributed by The Red Sea Press, Trenton, NJ. Pp. ix+266. $15.85 paperback. - Volume 33 Issue 4

Breaking and making the state: The dynamics of ethnic democracy in Ethiopia

(1995). Breaking and making the state: The dynamics of ethnic democracy in Ethiopia. Journal of Contemporary African Studies: Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 149-163.

Human Rights Report No 4: The 1994 election and democracy in Ethiopia

Human Rights Report No 4: The 1994 election and democracy in Ethiopia