The modern Ethiopian state is characterized by militarization of state and non-state actors, high population density with youth unemployment, food insecurity, real and perceived ethnic inequalities and discrimination, and ethnic and political polarization. The United States faces huge challenges, including globalization and widespread human rights. abuse Ethiopians remain divided over what constitutional structure has the greatest potential to address these challenges and unify the country without compromising its diversity.
It is in this context that last May, Northwestern University’s pritzker law school and Roberta Buffett Institute of International Studies, in cooperation with Addis Ababa University Faculty of Law and Governance And that Harvard Law School Human Rights Programconvened Ethiopian scholars from a wide range of fields, including constitutional law, federalism, history, and political science, in Addis Ababa to present papers, articles, and lectures on the future of Ethiopia’s social contract.
A broader look at social and political issues
Subsequently published “Between failure and redemption: the future of Ethiopia’s social contract” encompasses a series of papers and proceedings from that academic conference, highlighting the social and political challenges that need to be addressed in Ethiopia, the strengths and weaknesses of the constitutional structure in relation to these challenges, and the creation of a resilient polity. We focus on how to build. . These papers cover a wide range of topics, including women’s rights, the pursuit of inclusive democratic governance, and Ethiopia’s identity in the postcolonial era.
“In these turbulent and polarizing times, the conference’s modest but by no means simple aspiration was to create a safe space for scholarly dialogue,” said Robertson, associate director of the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School. Abadeer Ibrahim said. “When we were able to accomplish that, we found that the substantive insights from the conference recorded in this book were not just informative, but truly heartening.”
“Pride of Africa”
Sosina Heil, Walter P. Murphy Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University McCormick School of Engineering A member of the conference’s organizing committee, he grew up primarily in the United States after fleeing the horrors of the Derg.
“My obviously irrational wish is that Ethiopia remains the pride of Africa, and by extension, the pride of black people around the world,” Haile said in his opening remarks. “I also sincerely hope that there will be an open and fair discussion about past complaints and how to build a society where such complaints are not repeated.”
Providing information to policy makers
In the preface to Between Failure and Remedy, Thomas F. Geraghty, James B. Haddad Professor Emeritus of Law, Class of 1967 at Northwestern Law School, and Director Emeritus of the Law School’s Bloom Legal Clinic, writes: It is written as follows.
“Despite efforts by government officials, opposition leaders, concerned citizens, organizations, and academics to create an environment conducive to constructive dialogue, the conditions that support peaceful coexistence in many diverse communities are not being created. Ethiopia is not the only country that has failed.”
Mr. Getashu Assefa, Associate Professor and Head of the Faculty of Law and Governance, Addis Ababa University, said in his opening remarks of the conference: Policy makers and anyone who wants to benefit from the debate. ”
Ibrahim said the publication, published by Northwestern Libraries in collaboration with Northwestern University’s Roberta Buffett Institute of International Studies, “expands this conversation, including its specific insights, conclusions, and disagreements.” “We aim to bring this into the public sphere, and we hope to infuse it with nuance.” to a broader political discussion. ”
“This initiative by Ethiopian scholars is an effort to create and continue a constructive dialogue that builds on Ethiopia’s unique and distinctive history and the potential of its diverse society,” Geraghty said.