Soldiers in business: the pitfalls of METEC's projects in the context of Ethiopia's civil-military relations

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Periodical article

Title:	Soldiers in business: the pitfalls of METEC's projects in the context of Ethiopia's civil-military relations
Author:	Gebregziabher, Tefera Negash
Year:	2019
Periodical:	Review of African Political Economy (ISSN 0305-6244)
Volume:	46
Issue:	160
Pages:	261-278
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Ethiopia
Subjects:	State civil-military relations economic development industrial development
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1080/03056244.2019.1613222
Abstract:	This article critically chronicles the ascendancy and apparent decline of a business conglomerate, Metals and Engineering Corporation (METEC), in post-1991 Ethiopia. Informed by 'developmental state' ideology, the political elites managed to create METEC, entrusting it to the military for their use in leading the industrialisation of the country. With a sober analysis of the conglomerate's engagement in mega-projects in the context of civil-military relations, this article shows that the 'developmental role' of METEC has been characterised by extreme delays in projects, with symptoms of financial embezzlement which have led the party-state to reconsider the military's role in the economy. The article relies primarily on documents, informal discussions and media content analysis.