New Book on Ethiopia
Title: Why Ethiopia Remains Poor
Structural and Conjunctural Constraints for the Emergence of a Civil Society in Ethiopia: 1991-2005
Author: Melakou Tegegn
Lambert Academic Publishers (Germany), 2010
This book examines the constraints that inhibit the emergence of a civil society and democracy in Ethiopia during the EPRDF period, 1991-2005. Freedom and democracy are taken as precondition for development and social transformation. It introduces a conceptual construct on synergizing three political and sociological categories, namely [1] the state and society relationship, [2] freedom and democracy, and [3] development, -poverty eradication, social change and social transformation in transitional societies, placing freedom as a pivotal link.
The book establishes a marked continuum in the modalities of state and society relationship throughout the three post-War governments. It examines the current state/society relationship and highlights lack of freedom as the major constraint. This is examined against the backdrop of what the historical realm for social change in post-War Ethiopia was supposed to be. It examines the policies of the current government (EPRDF) on non-state organizations, the irrational viewpoint it advances and how the basic perceptions that the ruling party held back in 1975 haven’t changed. It holds that the government exacerbated the problem of the fragile relationship it had with society.
Why Ethiopia Remains Poor also examines the government’s perception on ethnicity as the ‘rational’ that governs the functions of its institutions of governance and deconstructs EPRRDF’s “revolutionary democracy”, the dichotomy between quality and quantity as well as between cadres and experts. It also deconstructs the EPRDF’s thesis on the “national question” both in terms of its claims to have proceeded from the positions of the old student movement on the one hand and from the Marxian theoretical perception on the other.
The analysis is extended to examine the development challenges that Ethiopia currently faces. Four major development challenges are advanced for examination: gender, environment, rural development and population. A chapter is devoted exclusively to gender while the other three domains of sustainable development, i.e. environment, rural development and population, are analyzed in one Chapter. The thesis concludes that the EPRDF has failed to resolve these structural problems and has no capacity to do so. EPRDF’s exclusion of the nascent ‘civil society’, suppression of freedom in general is taken as the main factors behind the failure.
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Note: the book can be ordered on line from Amazon. The publishers put the price at 79 Euro or $98 at current exchange rate.
The book is worth reading as it came from one of the TPLF/Shabiya henchman.Melak was one of the EPRP old boys. He spent most of his life in Europe. His hatred to Dergue was translated to a hatred to his country and he gave his blind and blanket support to Woyannie and Shabiya. After Woyannie and Shabiya captured Arat Kilo, he came back to Ethiopia as a Country Director for an International NGO called Panos-International. Melaku is knowledgeable on Ethiopian politic and the Civil Society. I hope the book includes a chapter on his personal confession for his blind support for Woyannie and Shabiya mercenaries who destroyed the country and our social fabrics beyond recognition!!!
I remember Melaku. He lived in Amsterdam for a long time. As I understand it, he was the head of EPRP in Europe. Just like many of these so called revolutionaries. He became ardent supporter of TPLF on the eve of their victory. He was paid off by being head of Panos. Now he must have left Panos and out of Ethiopia. I wonder who he is working for now.
Melaku Tegegn was neither an ‘ardent supporter of TPLF’ nor did he give a ‘blind and blanket support’ to TPLF. Most people in Addis came to know him when he gave an interview (that was really bad and vengeful against his former party comrades) to a now defunct newspaper published by the former owners of the Unity College. I know, I also have contributed some here, but please, lets stay on the subject of the book and say only what we know for certain.
I know Melaku as a brilliant teacher (though in part-time basis) at AAU in Department of Political Science. He is analytical and critical of issues especially issues related to civil society in Ethiopia, which he picked for his analysis in this a must-read book. Although it is very difficult to overlook his political opinions and background, it is good to critically read what he wants to say in this book.