Main Article Content

Ethiopia's Evolving Foreign Relations, 1855-1991: Shifting Alliances and Partnerships


Shimellis Hailu Dessie

Abstract

Ethiopia's foreign relations have continuously evolved because of changes in domestic politics,
geopolitical forces, and global political dynamics. This article analyzes and infers insights from
these crests and fuzzes. The study employed a constructivist theoretical framework and
qualitative research methodology. The study used both primary and secondary data. The primary
data was generated from key informant interviews and secondary data was gathered from
relevant archives, documents, and literature. Based on this, the historical analysis of Ethiopia’s
foreign relations revealed that Ethiopia's external partnerships from 1855 to 1991 were shaped by
its struggle to maintain domestic socio-political cohesions, its status as a non-colonized African
nation, Horn geopolitical dynamics, imperialism, colonialism and Cold War great power rivalry
which resulted in a different approach to its international relations. The country adopted a
"distance state" strategy, aligning with distant powers to counterbalance regional pressures while
keeping a siege mentality towards its immediate neighbors due to historical conflicts. However,
Ethiopia's alignments with global powers fluctuated based on the ruling regimes' survival policy,
leading to shifts between Western (1855-1974) and Eastern Bloc countries (1974-1991). On the
other hand, the country's engagement with other African nations remained limited, as it focused
on cultivating relationships with more powerful global allies. Regional tensions, with countries
in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East, further complicated Ethiopia's foreign relations,
stemming from border disputes, religious, and ideological debates, Nile River rivalry, and power
dynamics. These historical ups and downs in partnerships significantly influenced Ethiopia's
foreign policy after 1991, creating both challenges and opportunities in its efforts to foster
regional stability and cooperation in the Horn of Africa and beyond. Thus, Ethiopia’s foreign
policymakers should consider these antecedent challenges and opportunities.


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 2787-0359
print ISSN: 2787-0367