In recent days i have been following the crisis in addis to which many were speaking passionately. Thus, the eprdf that assumed power in may 1991 after its protracted 17 year armed insurgency undertaken the reconstruction of the ethiopian state. A comparative study of the somali and benshangulgumuz regions. When the communist government had to step down in may 1991, when the new constitution drew up a completely new institutional system, many doubts arose. Later, a clearer federal system was established with the adoption of the 1995 constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia. And though it may be accurate to state that the founding principles of federalism have few ideological shortcomings, it may be that technicality issues types and forms may hamper the imposed federal system in ethiopian. Pdf territorial autonomy for ethnic groups is an important component of ethiopian federalism designed to deal with the challenges of ethnic diversity find, read and cite all the research.
Pdf the comparative relevance of the ethiopian federal system. Federalism and party politics in ethiopia download ebook. Variety of federations 25 countries and 40% of world population and 50% of surface of earth. Pdf ethnicbased federalism in ethiopia and its impact.
This is the nature of federalism and there should not be any reasonable disagreement on this conceptual framework. Northeast african studies, volume 10, number 2, new series, pp. Federalism, mode of political organization that unites separate states or other polities within an overarching political system in a way that allows each to maintain its own integrity. Perceptions of ethnic federalism and the ethiopian. Center state relations in the ethiopian federal setup. The federal government and the states shall have legislative, executive and judicial powers.
The fact that the federal arrangement its taking account of the multinational configuration of the country, the devolution of original sovereignty to substate national entities called nations, nationalities, and peoples, and the constitutional recognition of selfdetermination including secession the famous article 39 take the center stage in every political debate in election campaigns. The basis of ethiopias phantom federalism ecadf ethiopian news. Ararssa, special to addis standard in the first part of this series of reflection on ethiopias experiment with federalism, i have discussed the sketchy description of the federation in context and the current ethiopian federal system and its fundamental features. History and ideology 57 selfadministration through regional autonomy. It can be formed by coming together of former independent entities like in the case of switzerland, canada, and australia or by devolution of power like in the case of belgium and ethiopia. Comparative federalism uses a comparative approach to explore the contemporary nature and meanings of federalism and federation. The factors that endanger the current system simultaneously suggest under what conditions the concept of ethnic federalism might succeed in the ethiopian context. Oct 18, 2017 in fact, his now defunct party, the coalition for unity and democracy was formed in 2004, vowing to abolish the federal system. New frontiers in ethiopian politics, first national conference on federalism, conflict and peace building, addis ababa. Ethiopia has been experimenting with federalism for several years now. Following the end of the war, the postconflict government led by meles zenawi needed to balance the demands of over 90 ethnic. This type of federation is identified above all with the governance of meles zenawi from the 1990s in ethiopia, where it has sometimes been known as zenawism. As such, despite its limited scope, this monograph may be. The largest is the russian federation 17m km 2, canada 9.
There are 9 ethnically based administrative regions and two self. Download pdf fiscal federalism in the ethiopian ethnic. Fiscal federalism in the ethiopian ethnic based federal system download fiscal federalism in the ethiopian ethnic based federal system ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub, and mobi format. Various studies show that ethnic federalism is an obstacle to equitable growth and development. Ethnic federalism and conflict in ethiopia african journals online. Providing both a detailed theoretical examination and fresh case studies, it clearly distinguishes between federation, a particular kind of state, and federalism, the thinking that drives and promotes it. Pdf the original sin of ethiopian federalism researchgate. Ethnic federalism and its discontents crisis group.
Human rights, federalism, and legal pluralism introduction this is a paper about human rights, federalism and legal plural ism in ethiopia. Ethiopia attempted to introduce federalism in general, and fiscal decentralization in particular back as far as the transition period 1991994. The ruling party encourages ethnic based opposition while eliminating parties that advocate ethiopian nationalism. Fiscal federalism in ethiopia epub 10 may to what extent is the ethiopian fiscal federalism decentralized in experience of ethiopian fiscal federalism is associated with equal access. The federal experiment in ethiopia a sociopolitical. There are competing claims, for and against federalism. It is a deeply practical paper, in many ways a paper about the responsibilities and limits of state power. An economic analysis of fiscal federalism in ethiopia. Challenges and prospects paperback april 18, 2014 by mulatu amare author see all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. This constitution is an expression of their sovereignty.
Fiscal federalism in the ethiopian ethnicbased federal system. In a nutshell, ethiopian ethnolinguistic federalism is a response to the unfavorable conditions that prevailed in a unitary system, he concludes. In short to be an ethiopian, you will have to wear an amhara mask walleligne mekonnen november 17, 1969 this paper is presented in two parts. Ethiopians are not able to sit and discuss the common problem let alone solve it. Executive power is exercised by the government while legislative power is vested in the parliament. This is because it restricts the movement labor, capital and knowledge. Opposition to federalism has been the rallying cry for ethiopias former ruling class that is finding it difficult to navigate their way back to political power under the new dispensation put in place in 1991. Federal system of government is a midpoint between unitary system of government for example uganda and confederation for example european union. Two decades after the implementation of federalism in ethiopia, turtons 2005. Therefore, the limitation in providing a more detailed analysis has to be acknowledged from the outset.
The first part presents the historical account of federalism, i. For a careful observer, it is evident that the ethiopian federal system although it shares. The federal democratic republic of ethiopia comprises the federal government and the state members. In this part of the series i will reflect upon the major stages in which the ethiopian federal experiment has. Certain scholars appreciated ethiopian courage and commitment of implementing ethnicfederalism, having the fact that ethiopia has more than 80 ethnic groups with a deep diversity. Being one of the most diverse nations in the world, ethiopia is not an exception to be free from ethnic conflicts due to its weak political. A means for managing or a triggering factor for ethnic conflicts in ethiopia. Its accent on ethnolinguistic criteria for state formation, its. Their sovereignty shall be expressed through their representatives elected in accordance with this constitution and through their direct democratic participation article 9 supremacy of the constitution. Historical facts and the ethiopian constitution put addis ababa in oromia.
Ethiopia tried unitary system for 96 years and federal system for. Fiseha infra, and tsegaye regassa, comparative relevance of the ethiopian federal system to other african polities of the horn, bahir dar university journal of law, vol. The judiciary is more or less independent of the executive and the legislature. What is the advantages of federalism in ethiopia answers.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. In 1991 ethiopia established an ethnic federal system that gave full recognition to ethnic autonomy, while maintaining the unity of the state. Ethnic federalism is a federal system of national government in which the federated units are defined according to ethnicity. Ethiopia and the federal system aiga forum, an ethiopian. Again, the part which relates to the regional context of africa may help to conceive and understand both the strength and limitations of the ethiopian federal system in the wider regional context. The troublesome nature of ethnic federalism could experience stressful or controversial administrative guidelines and economic scenarios between the ethiopian federal government authorities and regional officials as well as other peripheries in handling and coordinating the system itself. The regime transformed the hitherto centralised state into the federal democratic republic and also redefined citizenship, politics and identity on ethnic grounds. Fiscal federalism in ethiopia download 10 may to what extent is the ethiopian fiscal federalism decentralized in experience of ethiopian fiscal federalism is associated with equal access. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading federalism and ethnic conflict in ethiopia. Click download or read online button to fiscal federalism in the ethiopian ethnic based federal system book pdf for free now. Nov 01, 2015 the ruling party encourages ethnic based opposition while eliminating parties that advocate ethiopian nationalism. Lovise aalen, ethnic federalism and selfdetermination for nationalities in a semiauthoritarian state. Unless someone blindly and entirely denies the fact on the ground, ethiopia is a country with lots of diversities. Eprdfs revolutionary democracy depends on ml principles of party organisation and.
This phantom federalism experiment applied on ethiopians as guinea pig resulted in pain and distress to the majority of ethiopian people. The ethiopian peoples revolutionary democratic front eprdf, led by its chairman and prime minister, meles zenawi, has radically reformed ethiopias political system. Constitution of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia. Abstract in multiethnic country, respect of diversity and ethnic equality is a major tool for national integration. Two tales, or one on ethiopias federalism and south. In fact, his now defunct party, the coalition for unity and democracy was formed in 2004, vowing to abolish the federal system. The fifth conference is a continuation of the dialogue on peace, democracy, unity and transition.
Ethiopia tried unitary system for 96 years and federal system for 33 years, including the period of federation with eritrea. Hopefully, it may still help to understand the basic foundations laid by the constitution for building a federal system in ethiopia. Consistent with its mission, vision ethiopia creates unhindered forums for scholars, professionals and concerned ethiopians to present their carefully thought policy alternatives for ethiopia. Prepared under the sponsorship of the justice and legal system research institute. Concurrent powers in the ethiopian federal system concurrency in the 2010 kenya constitution concurrency of powers in deeply divided countries. First of all, addis ababa does not exist in a vacuum. This explains why the ethiopian federalism is often referred to as ethnic. The system designed to fuse an unwieldy nation together is now tearing it apart. Sep 24, 2017 this phantom federalism experiment applied on ethiopians as guinea pig resulted in pain and distress to the majority of ethiopian people. Ethiopia s unique system of ethnicbased federalism claims to minimise conflict by organising political power along ethnic lines. The, the profederal, outlooks ethnic based federalism as a means to intensification unity, and they support diversity for the sake of unity.
Federalism as a tool of conflict management in ethiopiaan overview, 4 mizan l. This has been its strategy to continue its divide and rule policy. Pdf the comparative relevance of the ethiopian federal. However, these pledges were not translated into practice. Related terms are multiethnic federalism and ethnofederalism this type of federation is identified above all with the governance of meles zenawi from the 1990s in ethiopia, where it has sometimes been known as zenawism. Reasonable people will also agree that federal regions states should be constructed based on language, culture, geographic positioning and other related points. Certain scholars appreciated ethiopian courage and commitment of implementing ethnic federalism, having the fact that ethiopia has more than 80 ethnic groups with a deep diversity. Concepts and theories 25 of treaties and the coining of money is independent of the government of the associated states, and, on the other hand, state governments which in certain matters are, in their turn, independent of the general government. However, this had brought the national questions as the politicoideological agenda by the. Oct 10, 2018 10 may to what extent is the ethiopian fiscal federalism decentralized in experience of ethiopian fiscal federalism is associated with equal access. Ethiopia and the federal system of government kichuu. A comparative regional study routledge studies in federalism and decentralization book 20 kindle edition by kefale, asnake. Introduction after ousting mengistu haile mariams dictatorship in 1991, the ethiopian peoples revolutionary democratic front eprdf, led by prime minister meles zenawi, embarked on a project to radically transform the countrys political system. Consistent with its mission, vision ethiopia creates unhindered forums for scholars, professionals and concerned ethiopians.
Pdf ethiopia has been experimenting with federalism for several years now. The government of ethiopia is structured in the form of a federal parliamentary republic, whereby the prime minister is the head of government. Its accent on ethnolinguistic criteria for state formation, its constitutional recognition of the right to secession, the. The smallest is st kitts and nevis 261 km 2 followed by micronesia 702 km some have very large populations. Federalism is not a panacea and it does not solve all problems it is important to create a federalist culture, as well as a culture of consensusbuilding, cooperation, tolerance, mutual understanding and respect of differences, diversity and multiculturalism, devotion to the common institutions and creation of a shared identity. Third, despite the monopoly of taxing power resides at the disposal of the government, the. Federal systems do this by requiring that basic policies be made and implemented through negotiation in some form, so that all the members can share in making and executing decisions. In so doing, it first seeks to descriptively situate. To accommodate these diversities, federalism is the preferred form of government. Proposed new ethiopian government administrative boundary system for unified nation building presented for national debate by engidashet bunare water engineer and. Multiethnic federalism in ethiopia oxford academic journals. Despite the evolution of multiethnic ethiopia by territorial conquest, successive feudal regimes were embarked on hegemonic project of building a nationstate. Pdf ethnicbased federalism in ethiopia and its impact on.
It must be in oromia, in amhara or the debub region. This empirical study shows that the system eases conflict at some levels but also sharpens inter. The comparative relevance of the ethiopian federal system. When the ethiopian peoples revolutionary democratic front eprdf ruling coalition established the system of ethnic federalism after coming to power in 1991, it served a clear purpose. To do this, strong good governance and democratic institutions are very important. Related terms are multiethnic federalism and ethnofederalism. Concurrent powers in the ethiopian federal system in. Is ethnic federalism really the biggest problem in ethiopia.
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