Ethnic Nationalists Abuse of Media: Lessons of Yugoslavia and Rwanda for Ethiopia

Abstract

This article tried to assess the role of media in the former Yugoslavia inter-ethnic conflict, the 1994 Rwanda's genocide, and Ethiopia's recent interethnic conflict trends comparatively. It also addresses lessons Ethiopia can learn from the former Yugoslavia and the 1994 Rwanda. It is mainly a qualitative study. For the analysis, semi-systematic literature review, frame analysis, and discourse analysis are used. Six ethnic-based media from Amhara, Oromo, and Tigre ethnic groups of Ethiopia were taken as a sample of the study. The finding shows that victimization frames, ethnic injustice frames, moral superiority frames, anti-hero frames, 'enemy within' frames, and self-defense frames are the dominant crisis frames of the media, which created fear, sense of a clear and present danger and mobilized violent action in both Yugoslavia and Rwanda. This article reveals that these crisis frames are also framed by all selected ethnic based media in current Ethiopia; to the extent of the potential consequence as the same result as both Yugoslavia and Rwanda. Additionally, Yugoslavia and Rwanda media played the role of instigating and flaring conflict and genocide respectively. Similarly, the current manifestations and trends of Ethiopia's ethnic-based media are following the path which Yugoslavia and Rwanda media has passed. Regional state/public media and specific 'ethnic group' based private/commercial Ethiopian media are abused by 'extreme ethnic nationalists'. Based on these comparative analyses, the study identified major lessons from Yugoslavia and Rwanda which will help Ethiopia to take timely measures. Thus, structured, content-specific, aggressive and proactive interventions on ethnic-based Ethiopian media are highly needed.

Fragile Democracy: Media Freedom and Radical Polarisation in Ethiopia

“…Ethiopia does not possess the structure, professionalised journalism landscape and institutional arrangements to neutralise ethnic nationalist abuse of the media or anchor individual freedom towards inalienable rights for everyone—as expected in a liberal society (Gessese, 2018). In this case, media freedom may advance communal fusion or strengthen ethnolinguistic and sectarian divisions in political life (Beckett & Kyrke-Smith, 2007).…”

“…On the other hand, a free and diverse media promotes division, intensifies factional identities and compromises state stability, especially in fragile states where governance/government is weak. For instance, Tigray and Oromia region-based media outlets were conceived by radical ethnic nationalist groups like the TPLF and the Oromia Liberation Front—as propaganda channels for sovereign power and self-determination (Gessese, 2018, p. 17). These ethnically oriented and fragmented media practices foster divisions by injecting historical context and negative memories into frames during conflicts.…”

“…These ethnically oriented and fragmented media practices foster divisions by injecting historical context and negative memories into frames during conflicts. Tigray and Oromia region-based media tend to report conflicts that occur in the Amhara region by applying framing themes of ‘Amhara ethnic groups are still doing mass killings and genocide of minority ethnic groups as their former fathers did’ in Ethiopia (Gessese, 2018, p. 17).…”

News discourses threatening multiculturalism in Ethiopian mainstream TV channels: Discourse historical approach

“…Some studies attribute political polarization to ethnic media, as exemplified by Skjerdal and Mulatu's assertion that “us and them” discourses stem from ethnic affiliation [ 15 ]. Gessese argues that diverse news frames in ethnic media contribute to political crises and instill fear [ 18 ]. Solomon and Tveiten highlight ethnicity as an emerging journalism paradigm [ 19 ].…”

“…Recent political changes in Ethiopia have resulted in a divided society, with differing opinions on the sustainability and effectiveness of these changes [ 10 ]. Current political challenges stem from issues such as ethnic federalism, internal divisions within the ruling party, unemployment, propaganda, social inequality, and porous borders [ 11 , [12] , [13] , [14] , [15] , [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] , [28] , [29] ]. These conditions have allowed dominant perspectives of privileged ethnic groups, particularly those in power, to shape the media landscape, potentially impacting the representation of multiculturalism emphasized in this study.…”