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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The Background to the Political Crisis in Ethiopia. Part One
Author:Gebeyehu, Asamenew G.W.
Year:1990
Periodical:Ufahamu
Volume:18
Issue:1
Pages:25-40
Language:English
Geographic term:Ethiopia
Subjects:political conditions
military regimes
1970-1979
1980-1989
Politics and Government
History and Exploration
Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
Abstract:The empire of Ethiopia has been violently shaken since the 1974 popular uprising against the autocratic regime of the late Emperor Haile Selassie. In less than a year, and without much difficulty, the legendary and centuries-old monarchy was abolished and replaced by a military dictatorship. In the past sixteen years, this regime has been engaged in dismantling the traditional symbols of legitimate authority and national identity, on the one hand, and in constructing new symbols and a new basis of legitimate authority, on the other. The traumatic experience of the entire nation in the past sixteen years, however, clearly indicates the failure of the military regime to construct the institutions of change on solid foundations and to direct such changes towards peace, democracy and development. The author tries to explain the failure of the 'revolution' in terms of the historical and cultural heritage of the nation. In part 1, he argues that the State in Ethiopia has historically been characterized by extreme centralization, ruling-elite violence, and dictatorship. As a result, society in Ethiopia has long been deprived of its right to peaceful existence, development and democracy. In part 2, he explores the 'revolution' of 1974 to see if it has altered in any radical sense the conditions that it allegedly set out to change. The conclusion is that not only has there been very little change for the better, but much has worsened in the living conditions of the people. Notes, ref.
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