Ethiopia: The Challenge of Democracy from BelowBahru Zewde, Siegfried Pausewang Democracy is a concept reflecting European philosophies, struggles and concerns. Many Ethiopian ethnic groups have traditions which may offer more satisfactory and culturally acceptable foundations for a “sovereignty of the people” through time-honored ways of voicing political ideas, ironic observations and vital interests. In line with modern urban life Ethiopians also organize and express their interests in non-governmental organizations, the independent press and advocacy groups representing political and social alternatives. The contributors to this book analyze the democratic potential of these movements and practices, their ability to give a voice to the view from below and their potential contribution to a more genuine participation by the majority of Ethiopians in democratic decision making and bringing the sovereignty of the people a step closer to reality. |
Contents
Preface | 5 |
Traditionalism or Living Democratic Values? | 29 |
Øyvind Aadland | 45 |
THE PEASANT AND THE MANAGEMENT OF POWER AND RESOURCES | 59 |
No Environmental Protection without Local Democracy? | 87 |
Civil Society Organizations in Ethiopia | 103 |
The Role of NGOs in Protecting Democratic Values | 120 |
Oral literatures depicting the Man His Regime | 149 |
This | 153 |
Democratisation and Gender | 169 |
The State of the Press in Ethiopia | 186 |
References | 203 |
Common terms and phrases
activities Addis Ababa Addis Ababa University Africa Amhara region Amharic areas authority Awassa awraja birokrasi Birr cadres cent central Civil Code civil society committee Constitution cooperatives council Couplet court CRDA cultural Därg decentralization decision-making democracy democratic Derg Dessie Zuria discussion distributors donor economic EHRCO elections environmental EPRDF Ethiopia ethnic EWLA experience federal Gordanna gotcho groups Gurage Haile Sellassie Hambaricho heera household human rights implementation institutions Interviews issues jokes Kambata Kasayé Agär kebele Kestane kokata land redistribution leaders Mengistu Mengistu Haile Mariam ment newspaper NGOs officials oral oral literature organisations organizations Oromo papers participation party Pausewang peasant associations person political population practice private press problems Proclamation qäbälé regime registered responsibility role rules rural sector seera sera Sharia Shäwa Sidama Sindu social structure t'emad Tedbabe Teferi tion traditional tribes urban wereda wereda level woma women Yajoka zonal
Popular passages
Page 211 - Report to the Organisation for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Page 210 - Rural Land Holding Readjustment in West Gojjam, Amhara Region", in Ethiopian Journal of Development Research, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 57-89. Yigremew Adal, 2000: "Preliminary Assessment of the Impacts of the Post-Derg Land Policy on Agricultural Production: A Case Study of Land Redistribution in Two Communities in Northwest Ethiopia", in Workneh Negatu et al.