New Constitutional Elements to Resolve National Conflict in Ethiopia: The Theory and Practice
Small Paper for the Course :
From Conflict to Inclusive Development
Sub unit two B:The Peace Process
Prepared by :Gebru, Masho
Governance and Development
Rolnummer:20085576
Institute of IOB
Untwerp University
Antwerp
Belgium
Submitte to :Dr Perrot, Sandrine
February,25/2009
Background
Many of African states experienced and are experiencing horrific civil wars particularly since the end of cold war. Except Somalia, which itself is categorised as a “failed state” by the academic community, all most all African states are composed of several ethnic groups or nationalities. Consequently, there have been intra-state conflicts in many African states on the basis of various factors (such as the grievance factors-ethnic or religious inequality, the greed factors-economic opportunity, etc. to use Collier’s fames term, 2003) in which Ethiopia was a part. In response, the international community and African governments have been engaged in peace keeping and peace building process. Constitution, if it is democratically formulated based on negotiation, art of compromise and national reconciliation, is one of the powerful instruments of peace building and resolving national conflict. Since 1991, Ethiopia introduced some fundamental and radical constitutional elements, which are unique to Africa, if not to the world, that are designed to resolve national conflict. It is, therefore, the objective of this term paper to discuss the theory and practice of these constitutional elements in resolving national conflict in Ethiopia. Materials which are used in discussing this small paper include: Books and Articles from the university of Antwerp and other relevant and reliable documents from internet as well as personal...