Barii Ayano, PhD
1. Introduction
Although successive dictatorial rulers of Ethiopia have tried to hide it from the world, Ethiopia is one of the most heterogeneous countries in the world. This diversity is reflected in the wide variety of languages spoken and values practiced in Ethiopia. Modern Ethiopia is increasingly forced to confront the growing demands and tensions arising from this fount of diversity.
We can divide the political groups in Ethiopia into 3 parts based on the ways they deal with unity and unity in diversity principles.
First, narrow Ethiopianists have utter disregard of the unity in diversity concept in the politics of the Ethiopian Empire. Integrating diversity into the mainstream Ethiopian politics has never been an agenda in the Ethiopian political culture. In other words, Ethiopianism is a clear manifestation of disunity in diversity. There is no embodiment of diversity in Ethiopianism; it’s the exclusive club of Amhara and Amharanized elites.
Second, the TPLF/EPRDF regime has perfected its divide-and-rule by using diversity. The TPLF thugs have developed an effective system that has led to disunity in diversity, including within the parties in the regime.
Third, political entities that represent the conquered people theoretically uphold unity in diversity within and across nations and nationalities for peaceful coexistence, and to nurture collaboration in the struggle for freedom. But the endorsement and experimentation of the principle has not yet yielded solid unity in diversity within and across nations and nationalities.
The differences between the political entities that deal with the Ethiopian Empire predicaments are many in number and have significant differences in their political philosophy (ideology). Yet, they all have one problem in common; it is a universal problem for all of them: they don’t have successful political models yet on how to handle diversity dynamics within and across nations and nationalities. Among others, this is the main reason why internal divisions abound within all political groups organized to deal with the political predicaments of the Ethiopian Empire. Moreover, mistrust among political parties runs extreme. The impasses within and among the various political groups have created extremely weak unifying conditions, with no end in sight. Although the attention given to unity in diversity significantly differs among political groups, the effective application of unity in diversity principle eluded all politicians from the Ethiopian Empire to solve feuding within and among nations and nationalities. All politicians across the divides have very little to show off as success in unity in diversity. It’s a universal problem for all.
Number reasons can be given for the universal failures to effectively deal with diversity within and across nations and nationalities. I will cite two reasons, which are usually mentioned, and skip to the purpose of this discussion. One reason, for the lack of effectively dealing with diversity issues, is related to the political culture of Ethiopia, which never respects and accommodates diversity. The second reason is the fact that the core politicians, Ethiopianists or representing nations and nationalities, are deeply influenced by the ideology of the Socialism that sees everything in black and white, with no compromise or never search for the middle ground. “With us or against us”, “mehalsafari yiwudem” etc. shaped the political views (mindset) of the leaders of 1960s and 1970s student movements, who are still at the helm of the leadership of the political parties, Ethiopianists or otherwise. Although few have ventured outside the realm, many of the politicians are stuck in 1960s and 1970s political mindset. This is self-evident. Political divisions are normal. What lacks normality is seeing diverse interest groups as enemies that must be eliminated.
I won’t delve into discussing the detail reasons why politicians from the Ethiopian Empire are universally challenged to implement “unity in diversity” within or across nations and nationalities. The purpose of this piece is just to raise few points in line with questions (issues) discussants raised under the discussions of “Debunking the Illusions and Confusions of Narrow Ethiopianism”.
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