Implications of Protest and Reform for Domestic Governance in Ethiopia

Abstract

The nexus between protest–transition–reform situated in a larger frame of Ethiopia’s political dynamics anchored in historical narratives and theoretical debates are presented in this paper. Moreover, the genesis and the dynamics surrounding the rolling out of the post-2018 Ethiopia’s transition are examined from the vantage point of prospects for entrenching a stable democratic dispensation in the country. To this end, the political economy approach, along with presenting ethnographic narratives that are pertinent to the subject under study, is used as an analytical lens. Also, document review of journal articles, official and academic reports, internet blogs, and newspaper and other media posts was undertaken to substantiate findings from primary sources. The paper concludes that the ongoing Ethiopian transition unfolded by paving avenues for opening up space for negotiating unsettled issues surrounding state-society relations in a context of a relatively liberalized political economy. However, the envisioned model of transition is constrained by different factors characterized by a split in the ranks of the ruling coalition, intergroup conflicts, and rising unmet expectations that resulted in the absence of peace and stability. Besides, the prevailing weakness of democratic institutions and polarized inter-ethnic relations, the recent outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic stalled the progress of the transition process.

Social Media as Solidarity Vehicle During the 2020 #EndSARS Protests in Nigeria

“…Study also has shown that online platforms help in conjuring up collective and cross-sectarian narratives that challenge the hegemonic political narratives and heighten the countries identity (Badmus et al, 2019). Others contend that social media inspires populism from below (Theophilus and Mpofu, 2021) and that such movements can shed light on long-standing struggle and inequalities, can increase opportunities for the disadvantage groups and can open the societies to liberalised political economy (Ashine and Berhanu, 2021; Buranajaroenkij et al, 2018; Zaman, 2018). These with few exceptions all eulogise the access and organising abilities that social media platforms afford their users, particularly the chance they give to disadvantaged communities.…”