Manipulating Political Decentralisation

The Revolutionary Democracy of Ethiopia: A Wartime Ideology Both Shaping and Shaped by Peacetime Policy Needs

“…The introduction of ethnic federalism was strategically smart – a result of power calculations on how to consolidate the position of the new regime. As the only victorious power after the civil war, EPRDF could implement the system without creating any risks, similar to the situation in other inclusive autocracies (Aalen and Muriaas 2018b). When the mission of securing ruling party power was accomplished and new challenges appeared, the EPRDF leadership was ready to move to new policy projects, focusing on national economic growth and the developmental state, but still within the same ideological frame, revolutionary democracy.…”

“…They served the dual aim of mobilization and control (Aalen and Muriaas 2018a) and became key in the party and state apparatuses’ surveillance system in the post-war period (Pausewang et al 2002). In addition to these local political-administrative structures, from the early 1990s the EPRDF and affiliated parties gained control and established regional and local party structures all over Ethiopia, which have controlled the governments in all nine regional states of the federation to date (Aalen and Muriaas 2018b; Abbink 1995). The central principle of federalism, regional self-rule, has therefore been severely compromised by centralized party power (Aalen 2002), an issue further elaborated on in the discussion on federalism in the next section.…”

“…These joined local branches or affiliates of the ruling EPRDF coalition. Thus, the establishment of the federal system and the locally based party organizations were efficient avenues for the regime to penetrate new areas and create new elites loyal to the party in every corner of the vast state territory (Aalen and Muriaas 2018b). In many communities, young and inexperienced but loyal local leaders took the place of Derg officials and traditional leaders (Aalen 2011).…”

“…Although reinforcing ruling party dominance, the establishment of regional and local government structures and the holding of what was formally presented as multiparty elections facilitated the participation of large numbers of the population in local affairs and led to the inclusion of previously marginalized ethnic groups into the body politic of Ethiopia. This blend of ethnic federalism and mass participation has added a dimension of inclusiveness in an otherwise repressive autocracy (Aalen and Muriaas 2018b). A side effect of ethnic politics was the thriving of ethnic entrepreneurs, aiming to take advantage of the new system.…”

“…As shown in other similar contexts, wartime social networks put successful insurgent groups in an excellent position to mobilize support in subnational elections and to reward those loyal to the organization. In the African context, governments that are in a secure position due to a one-sided victory after war and have great confidence in winning elections – exemplified by Ethiopia and Uganda – are the most eager to introduce and implement decentralizing reforms (Aalen and Muriaas 2018b). The reorganization into the nine ethnic-based regional administrations, all with elected legislatures and autonomous executive and judicial powers, was performed together with the mobilization of new ethnic elites within every community in the Ethiopian state.…”