Democratisation and violent ethno-political conflicts in post-2018 Ethiopia: an examination on their interface and the way forward

Abstract

Since 2018, two seemingly contrasting realities surfaced in the Ethiopian political landscape. On one hand, the big-bang political reforms in the country were acclaimed both within and outside of the country. On the other hand, the country has been rocked by violent ethno-political conflicts, arguably as never seen before in terms of its intensity and frequency. Based on extensive insights gathered from existing literature and an interpretative approach, this article examines how the theoretical debate of democratization, security, and violent conflict have unfolded in the post-2018 Ethiopian political landscape. Settling the national and regional questions; bargain between the autocratic elites and the opposition; and co-optation between the old and the new elites are scrutinized to draw a direction for the way forward.