The depoliticisation of two competing nationalisms and the introduction of democratic Meritopianism as a possible way out for Ethiopia

ABSTRACT

This article is a critical appraisal of the development and performance of two competing nationalisms – Ethiopian and ethnic nationalisms. It assesses why the current system espoused by ethnic politics is a danger to peaceful and harmonious co-existence and state survival and what should be done about it. It starts with the identification of a problem: if the Ethiopian version of federalism continues to be applied within the context of politicisation of ethnicity it will always be a source of ethnic hostility by generating ethnic grievances of real or perceived injustices. Both variants of nationalism are threats to the continuation of the state and the achievement of viable development. After a politico-historical comparative analysis based on observation and secondary data of Ethiopian nationalism (the thesis) and ethnic nationalism (the anti-thesis), a third individual based democratic Meritopianism (the synthesis) rooted in universal human values like individual rights rather than the politicisation of primordial identities is suggested.

KEYWORDS:

• Ethiopia
• Ethiopianism
• ethnic politics
• competing nationalisms
• democratic Meritopianism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributor

Bekri M. Jemal is a published author currently working as a Lecturer at Hawassa University’s School of Governance and Development Studies. He is currently serving as a member of the editorial team in the College of Law and Governance. He has a Masters in Development Studies (2011) and a BA in Political Science and International Relations (2005) from Addis Ababa University. In addition he has completed a Leadership and Management Skills Development Training Program, Higher Diploma for Teaching Methodology and variousresearch methodology workshops. He had also served as a Lecturer at Ambo University in the Department of Political Science and International Relations teaching courses like Introduction to Politics of Development, Introduction to Politics and Government, Politics in the Horn of Africa, Politics of Development in Ethiopia and Democracy and Human Rights. He was also a Graduate Assistant and then Lecturer at the University of Gondar since April 2008 teaching a variety of courses in addition to serving as committee chair for curriculum development and a Higher Diploma Leader at the University. His research interests include topics of ethnic politics and federalism, nationalism, development, sustainable development, the developmental state model, political economy and so on.