Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University Political Science Dissertations Department of Political Science 12-14-2017 Ethnic Federalism and Authoritarian Survival in Ethiopia Yohannes Gedamu Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/political_science_diss Recommended Citation Gedamu, Yohannes, "Ethnic Federalism and Authoritarian Survival in Ethiopia." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2017. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/political_science_diss/45 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Political Science at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Political Science Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ETHNIC FEDERALISM AND AUTHORITARIAN SURVIVAL IN ETHIOPIA By YOHANNES GEDAMU Under the Direction of Carrie Manning, PhD ABSTRACT After the fall of the military regime (the Dergue) in Ethiopia, that had ruled for seventeen years, the EPRDF (Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front) coalition and some former liberation fronts took control of the state and the systemic political transformation of the country. The impact they made on the state stability, political and economic questions however, invite fur- ther investigation. Considering the historical preludes, understanding today’s political landscape and lingering political and economic questions, this dissertation examines an institutional solution introduced by EPRDF led government in Ethiopia, i.e. Ethnic Federalism. The post-1991 politics and EPRDF’s coalition however, are highly dominated by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) with a political base of roughly six percent of the total population. Nonetheless, the coali- tion, while challenged by fractured coalitions of political opposition and intra-party struggles, re- mains stable and in control. Hence, the dissertation provides a broader analysis on how the EPRDF coalition survives amid such challenges and remains in hold of political power while the overarch- ing majority opposing its domination of the political landscape. As such, I focus on whether the federal arrangement, introduced as institutional solution to address grievances of diverse groups created mechanisms that enabled the regime’s political survival. In doing so, through diverse meth- odologies such as the use of comparative historical analysis and process tracing, elite interviews, case studies and use of secondary sources, I argue that Ethiopia’s ethnic federalism has effectively served the incumbent elites by providing the platform and mechanisms that ensured success of authoritarian survival. Overall, this dissertation in its first part discusses the continuity of culture of elite interaction that served as the foundation to survivalist politics in the country. Secondly, through careful investigation of the federal setting, the dissertation concludes that such federal arrangement is designed with the survivalist agenda in mind. As such, through patron-client rela- tions, use of institutional arrangements that targeted group right promotion agenda in the political as well as economic schemes, the coalition navigated the political landscape quite skillfully thereby guaranteeing its survival for well over two decades and half. INDEX WORDS: Ethnic Federalism, Authoritarian Survival, Political Culture, Neo-Patrimonial- ism, Clientelism, Democratization, Institutional Designs, Elite Strategies ETHNIC FEDERALISM AND AUTHORITARIAN SURVIVAL IN ETHIOPIA by YOHANNES GEDAMU A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences Georgia State University 2017 Copyright by Yohannes Yenehun Gedamu 2017 ETHNIC FEDERALISM AND AUTHORITARIAN SURVIVAL IN ETHIOPIA by YOHANNES GEDAMU Committee Chair: Carrie Manning Committee: Michael Herb Jelena Subotic Mohammed Ali Electronic Version Approved: Office of Graduate Studies College of Arts and Sciences Georgia State University December 2017 iv DEDICATION To my beautiful children, Yovel and Leah, and to my wife, Seble, I love you all and this is for you. To my parents, Yenehun Gedamu and Alemnesh Kidanie, thank you for your love and endless support that I am indebted forever. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The journey was tough, trying and required the level of patience and perseverance of the highest proportions, all of which, I assumed that I never had. However, as it is always the case in my life, God was always with me and I am extremely grateful for the support and courage he bestowed in me and my family throughout our lives in general and in the last four years of my graduate studies in particular. What comes second is of course, my family. My wife, Seble Ademe was not only supportive of my academic endeavors, but also she was the backbone of our family. If it was not for her support from the beginning, I would not have achieved anything in my aca- demic endeavors. Sebly, this is for you and for our lovely children, Yovel and Leah. My parents, Mr. Yenehun Gedamu and Alemnesh Zekarias, have also been my important sources of motiva- tion. I have always felt their prayers and if it was not for their support and prayers, I would have had the hardest of times to succeed in anything I was trying to accomplish. My mother, Alemnesh (Tata), in particular paid sacrifices that could not be quantified in any way possible. Here, it is also extremely important for me to mention my mother-in-law, Tirugebeya Desta (Etalem). Etalem, along with my mom, was always there to help with my children thereby providing me breathing spaces here and there so that I can solely focus in my studies. I am indebted to her support. The same also goes to my supportive sister-in-law, Tigist Ademe, who has been there for our children and whenever we needed her. Next to God, the almighty and my family, it was my dissertation committee members who were my mentors through out my academic journey. They guided me through my studies, required and encouraged me to be on my very best at all times thereby helping me to exploit the potential that I had not even known was within me. The Chair of my dissertation committee, Dr. Carrie vi Manning, of course, deserves my especial gratitude. Dr. Manning has given me the confidence that I needed the most and her trust to my abilities in academic writing and scholarly efforts have kept my energy level constant. Her enthusiasm to the topic I have tackled, regardless of how ambitious it was, also have helped me remain enthusiastic throughout this project. I was also extremely for- tunate to have the three committee members, Dr. Michael Herb, Dr. Jelena Subotic, and Dr. Mo- hammed Hassan Ali, who have always kept their doors open for me, accommodated me whenever I sought their advice, and supported me throughout my graduate studies in general and the disser- tation project in particular. Dr. Herb, who has been my mentor since my undergraduate years at Georgia State University, also wrote the recommendation letter I needed to join the graduate pro- gram. Dr. Mohammed Hassen Ali has been there for me from the beginning. Despite form another department, Dr. Ali’s support in my graduate studies in political Science was tremendous. I always treasure Dr. Ali’s advice, mentorship and guidance. Last, but not in any way the least, was also the support that I have received from Dr. Subotic, whom not only I give the credits in my training in international relations, especially in cultivating my interests in human rights and transitional jus- tice, but also for the support and confidence she has given me through out my graduate studies. For my committee members, I say thank you from the bottom of my heart! Throughout my work in writing this dissertation, I also enjoyed the support of so many who provided me pieces of advice that served me well throughout. I am indeed grateful for all. But if I could be grateful for anything in the writing of this project, it must be towards the amount of help from my interview subjects. These individuals are the most courageous individuals I have ever met. Some of them are retire political elites, former and current diplomats, refuges, scholars, journalists, and even more those who are still working for the regime in Ethiopia in different ca- pacities. I commend them for the courage in sharing their stories, and opinions on the questions I vii forwarded and most importantly for trusting me with their identities, and stories, which I am ex- tremely grateful for. I would also like to thank all of my siblings, Belaynesh, Elias, Yetanawork, and Saba. Especially my brother, Elias Yenehun, who has given me his support form afar. I love you, Elias and thank you for everything, my brother. Friends that have been part of my journey are also too many to mention. But I would like to thank Mekashaw Dessie. He has been the most supportive friend I have had through out my graduate studies. I would also like to thank Melaku Asmiro, who has given me his support through everything I went through in the last decade and half. Despite the distance, our friendship has endured and I am grateful for your friendship and support. Lastly, I would like to thank all my professors who have taught me and mentored me throughout the years. Dr. Toby Bolsen, Dr. John Duffield, Dr. Andrew Wedeman, Dr. Jeffrey Lazarus, Dr. Sean Richey, Dr. Charles Hankla, Dr. Jeannie Grussendorf, Dr. Jennifer McCoy, Dr. Chris Brown, Dr. Syed Rashid Naim, Dr. Michael Evans and others whom I did not mention but who have left their imprints in me-all deserve my gratitude. I would also love to extend my grati- tude towards my friends in graduate school, Meshack Simati, Mamdouh Shouman, and Diana White. Thank you so much for your friendship and continued support. I will never forget the mem- ories and will remain indebted to you.