Is Federalism the Source of Ethnic Identity-Based Conflict in Ethiopia?

Abstract

Though statehood nature traced back to ancient times, modern Ethiopia came into being in the second half of the nineteenth century under the military expansion of King Menelik II. Since then subsequent political systems in the country have failed to recognise and accommodate the country’s ethnolinguistic diversity. However, in 1991 the new government constitutionally recognised and institutionally accommodated the country’s diversity. While solving old problems of ethnic inequality and injustice, ethnic federalism has created new problems of ethnic tensions and conflict across Ethiopia. The article aims at investigating how and why ethnic federalism ended up being a source of ethnic conflicts in Ethiopia and suggests the way out. The article employed a qualitative research design and methods of data analysis and interpretation. The finding of the study shows the notion and implementation of federalism has to be blamed, which left unclear administration boundary, overlooked cross-cutting variables, Majority versus minority and Titular versus Settler problem, politicised ethnicity by transformed cultural communities into political communities, produced mega ethnic syndrome within the Ethiopian society, for the country’s ethnic troubles and conflicts. Reforming the federal system and its constitutions is the way forwarded to reduce ethnic tensions and create an inclusive society in Ethiopia.

Portrayals of the Tigray War in Western News Media; the Framing of Ethnic Conflict in the Globe and Mail and New York Times During 2020-2021

“…For example, primordialism has strongly affected perceptions of ethnic identity and political discourse as "ethnicity in Ethiopia is linked with "kinship/bloodline and also the outcome of negotiations and construction" (Bayu, 2022). Further, Bayu (2022) highlights the relationship between primordial and instrumental notions of ethnicity.…”

“…For example, primordialism has strongly affected perceptions of ethnic identity and political discourse as "ethnicity in Ethiopia is linked with "kinship/bloodline and also the outcome of negotiations and construction" (Bayu, 2022). Further, Bayu (2022) highlights the relationship between primordial and instrumental notions of ethnicity. Using the example of Bulcha's (1997) discussion of re-ethnicizing individuals who lost their Oromo identity, Bayu argues that almost all "ethnic-based nationalist movements such as the TPLF and the OLF sought to instrumentalise the primordial elements of their ethnic constituencies for political mobilisation" (p.109).…”

Civil War between the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front: A Challenge to Implement the Responsibility to Protect Doctrine

“…However, the Constitution has had unintended consequences that overshadowed the original constitutional promise. The shortcomings within the Constitution of 1995, for instance, played a key role in shaping contemporary conflict dynamics by institutionalising ethnic politics (Bayu, 2022). Not only did it divide regional governments along ethnonational identities, but it also granted the right to secession and self-determination to the "nations, nationalities, and peoples" of Ethiopia (Abdullahi, 1998).…”

Ethiopia’s ‘Developmental State’

“…Third, the book deepens understanding of the EPRDF's collapse and what, at the time of writing, is an ongoing civil war in northern Ethiopia. Ever since the EPRDF adopted ethnic federalism, modelled on Stalin's approach to the national question in the Soviet Union, there has been a view that politicising ethnicity would inevitably lead to intercommunal conflict and the Balkanisation of Ethiopia (Abbink 2006, Mehretu 2012, Bayu 2022. From this perspective, the EPRDF's political project was doomed from the beginning and the civil war might be interpreted as the inevitable result of the ethnic divisions resulting from the federal system.…”