Abbysinia/Ethiopia: State Formation and National State-Building Project Comparative Approach Daniel Gemtessa Oct, 2014 Department of Political Sience University of Oslo TABLE OF CONTENTS No.s Pages Part I 1 1 Chapter I Introduction 1 1.1 Problem Presentation – Ethiopia 1 1.2 Concept Clarification 3 1.2.1 Ethiopia 3 1.2.2 Abyssinia Functional Differentiation 4 1.2.3 Religion 6 1.2.4 Language 6 1.2.5 Economic Foundation 6 1.2.6 Law and Culture 7 1.2.7 End of Zemanamesafint (Era of the Princes) 8 1.2.8 Oromos, Functional Differentiation 9 1.2.9 Religion and Culture 10 1.2.10 Law 10 1.2.11 Economy 10 1.3 Method and Evaluation of Data Materials 11 1.4 Evaluation of Data Materials 13 1.4.1 Observation 13 1.4.2 Copyright Provision 13 1.4.3 Interpretation 14 1.4.4 Usability, Usefulness, Fitness 14 1.4.5 The Layout of This Work 14 Chapter II Theoretical Background 15 2.1 Introduction 15 2.2 A Short Presentation of Rokkan’s Model as a Point of Departure for 17 the Overall Problem Presentation 2.3 Theoretical Analysis in Four Chapters 18 2.3.1 Territorial Control 18 2.3.2 Cultural Standardization 18 2.3.3 Political Participation 19 2.3.4 Redistribution 19 2.3.5 Summary of the Theory 19 Part II State Formation 20 Chapter III 3 Phase I: Penetration or State Formation Process 20 3.0.1 First: A Short Definition of Nation 20 3.0.2 Abyssinian/Ethiopian State Formation Process/Territorial Control? 21 3.1 Menelik (1889 – 1913) Emperor 21 3.1.1 Introduction 21 3.1.2 The Colonization of Oromo People 21 3.2 Empire State Under Haile Selassie, 1916 – 1974 37 3.2.1 Central Force 37 3.2.2 Political Community 46 3.2.3 Foreign Relations Under Haile Selassie 47 3.3 State Formation Under the Military Junta 1974 - 1991 50 3.4 The TPLF Version of State Formation, 1991 - 58 3.5 Summary 70 Chapter IV: Cultural Standardization (Nation State- Building) 74 4.0.1 Introduction 74 4.0.2 First: A Short Definition of Nation 75 4.1 Cultural Standardization/National State Building Under Menelik 76 4.1.1 Forceful Conversion 76 4.2 National State- Building Under Haile Selassie, 1916 – 1974 77 4.2.1 Cultural Standardization 77 4.2.2 Culture/Religion 82 4.3 National State- Building Under the Military Junta, 1974 – 1991 87 4.3.1 Cultural Standardization 87 4.4 National State- Building TPLF Version, 1991 - … 93 4.4.1 Structuring Ethiopia as a Federation 94 4.5 Summary 101 Chapter V: Active Participation 103 5.0.1 Introduction 103 5.1 Political Participation Under Menelik 104 5.2 Political Participation Under Haile Selassie 104 5.3 Political Participation Under the Military Regime 106 5.4 Political Participation Under TPLF 107 5.5 Summary 109 Chapter 6: Agencies of Redistribution/Welfare State 110 6.0.1 Introduction 110 6.1 Redistribution Under Menelik 110 6.1.1 Settler Colonialism 110 6.1.2 Gebbar 110 6.2 Redistribution Under Haile Selassie 113 6.3 Redistribution Under the Derg 116 6.4 Redistribution Under TPLF 117 6.5 Summary 122 Chapter VII: Conclusion 124 7.1 Challenges Facing the Abyssinian Empire State 125 7.2 Theoretical Perspective of this Task 126 Acknowledgment: First : Years ago during the time of my problems (“when the going got tuff”), I went to professor Knut Midgaard to get some advise. Professor Midgaard advised and encouraged me to continue further with my studies. To day I would like to express my heart felt thanks to him. Second : A couple of times during semester registrations, I got problems to get registred electronically. It was Siv Håberg (studie konsulent) who helped me get registred. Thank you very much Siv. Third: This paper has been delayed.But not with out reasons. Right after I finished all the courses of this study I joinend “oppgave skrivekurs” (thesis writing seminar) conducted by professor Oddbjørn Knutsen. After I finished the seminar, I was told to wait until the university finds an adivisor to me. The next semester, I heard that the university has found an advisor to me from (Norsk senter for menneskerettighter) Norwegian center for humanrights. I was very happy and I went immediately to the person and briefed him what I am going to write about. He authomatically said “ Ethiopia has got a new constitution, article 39 respects the right to selfdetermination including cessation. The regime is working to democratize Ethiopia”. When I heard this statement, I was so shocked, disappointed and left him immidiatly. This affected negatively my confidence of getting competent adivisor. Having such a person as an adivisor and writing about the objective reality of Ethiopia was impossible. In 2011 I called university and asked if I can get an advisor. I was told to get registred for “skrivekurs” again. I did it. It was dr. today professor Elin H. Allern who conducted that cours. At the same time I was informed that Dr. Morten Bøås was appointed as my adivisor. I sent my proposal to dr.Bøås wich he replied on 2011-11-02. At the same time professor Allern was working hard to get me on the right truck. At the end when things are getting shape professor Allern left me with dr.Bøås. I thank proffessor Elin H. Allern very very much. After this dr. Bøås advised me how to do it further in his email letter of 2012- 01-13. Again my writings progress was delayed, this time because of health and personal problems. I sent the draft of this paper to dr. Båøs on 14-09-2014, after I talked to him pr. Telephon. He confirmed receiving it on 15-09-2014. But I have not heard any comment from him to date (30-10-2014). I thank dr. Bøås for all the correspondansis. Fourth: A lote of thanks to all of my friends specially those who have been concernd about my well being. Fifth: Last but not least, I can not find words to thank enough Mr. Leenco Lata, the founding member of Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), former deputy secretary general of the OLF, and todays president of Oromo Dmocratic Front (ODF). Mr Lata encouraged and motivated me from time to time. And above all he pinpointed to me where I can find important datas for this work. I sincerely thank him very much. Part I On Ethiopian State Formation and National State Building Project Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Ethiopia The official name of Ethiopia has gone from the Empire of Ethiopia, during the imperial era, to the People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, during the reign of the military junta, to Federal Democratic Republic under the rule of Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF): The chameleon nature of Abyssinian (Ethiopian) colonial empire. The famous or infamous Berlin Conference of 1884/5 was held at the height of the “scramble for Africa/for colonies”. It was at this conference that European colonial powers came together and partitioned Africa among themselves and recognized one another’s possessions and defined “spheres of influence”. They further “agreed that in the future any power that effectively occupied African territory and duly notified the other powers could thereby establish possession of it. This gave the signal for the rapid partition of Africa among all the colonial powers, and inaugurated the new era of colonialism “(David Thomson 1966-501). Accordingly, the architect of Abyssinian (Ethiopian) empire, emperor Menelik II, sent a Circular Letter to the Heads of European states in 1891. In his Circular letter Menelik II expressed his desires and ambitions when he claimed large and adjacent territories of non Abyssinian people: “while tracing today the actual boundaries of my empire, I shall endeavor, if God gives me life and strength, to reestablish the ancient frontiers (tributaries) of Ethiopia up to Khartoum, and as Lake Nyanza with all the Gallas (Oromo), …..If powers at a distance come forward to partition Africa between them, I do not intend to be an indifferent spectator. As the Almighty has protected Ethiopia up to this day, I have confidence He will protect her, and increase her borders in the future. I am certain He will not suffer her to be divided among other powers. Formerly the boundary of Ethiopia was the sea. Having lacked strength sufficient, and having received no help from Christian powers, our frontier on the coast fell in to the power of the Muslim-man” (Circular Letter by Menelik II). Accordingly, European colonial powers respected Menelik’s demands and supported him to get the “Lion share” of the Horn of Africa. African states were directly built by Western colonial powers. Abyssinian (Ethiopian) empire was built directly by Abyssinian emperor with the support of Europeans. And has got the status of “independent” and on equal footing colonized non-Abyssinian nations and nationalities while Africa was partitioned by European colonialists. 1 Before and after colonization African states have shown varying results of national state building processes. The reason for this says Stein Rokkan the new states emerged after decolonization were faced with the “cumulation of critical challenges. Which results in a sudden and often explosive concatenating of critical problems in the majority of forth growing political systems of the twentieth century” (Rokkan 1987: 357). Again in Rokkan’s (1975: 573-74) own words “this cumulation of critical challenges during the final struggle for secession from the metropolis and the empire has tended to be even more pronounced outside Europe.