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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Ethiopian nationalism: an ideology to transcend all odds |
Author: | Gebrewold, Belachew |
Year: | 2009 |
Periodical: | Africa Spectrum |
Volume: | 44 |
Issue: | 1 |
Pages: | 79-97 |
Language: | English |
Geographic terms: | Ethiopia Eritrea |
Subjects: | national identity boundary conflicts nationalism |
External link: | https://doi.org/10.1177/000203970904400106 |
Abstract: | The main question addressed in this article is: What factors in Ethiopia contribute to the deadlock in the Eritrean-Ethiopian peace process? Does and can the EEBC (Eritrean-Ethiopian Border Commission) address the core issues? The hypothesis of the article is that the peace process so far has failed because the focus has been on economic, territorial and historical dimensions. The conflict has to be approached from a political-psychological aspect as well.The paper discusses different forms of nationalism in Ethiopia and demonstrates that in the conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia, though territory and economic issues indeed played a role, to reduce the causes of conflict merely to these two factors is a mistake. It shows how nationalism has served to transcend political, social, economic and cultural challenges in Ethiopia. Nationalists in Ethiopia have attempted to harness national cohesion against threats from both within and outside of the country. External threats have always provided an opportunity to mobilize the citizens and suppress internal dissent in the name of national identity. Unless there is a change in the expression of nationalism and in the perception of national identity, it will be difficult to address the dynamic of the Eritrean-Ethiopian border conflict and find lasting solutions. Bibliogr., sum. in English and German. [Journal abstract, edited] |