Ethiopia's Insecurity Complex

Reviews / Votes

"This book provides a balanced and well-informed analysis of the multiple and interlocking sources of insecurity that are challenging the stability and even the survival of Africa's oldest state. It is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand why Ethiopia is facing its current impasse, and hoping at least to find some way out of it."

Christopher Clapham, Centre of African Studies, Cambridge University, UK.

"Yonas Tariku and Fana Gebresembet have assembled a group of excellent Ethiopian scholars in what will become the benchmark for understanding insecurity in that conflict-torn country for years to come. The editors ground the research in the concept of intra-state insecurity complex, which provides both theoretical insights and links the distinct but networked dynamics of political violence. The authors recognize the importance of specific identity and historical narratives but also propose an original and comparative framework for understanding Ethiopia. Each chapter is rigorously researched, nuanced, and builds upon the most contemporary research and, notably, Ethiopian-based scholars and sources. In addition to the contributions by the editors, the chapter by Tezera Tazebew is excellent and places the 2018 transition in a deeper historical context and the complexities of Oromo politics are illuminated by the primary research included in Urgessa Deressa Gutu and Debela Fituma. Awet Halefom does a superb job providing nuanced, empirical analysis of the key but contentious Tigray case. The book will be read with great interest by those interested in contemporary Ethiopia as well as African politics and security studies."

Terrence Lyons, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, George Mason University, USA.

"This book offers a theoretically rich and empirically grounded analysis of Ethiopia's interlocking insecurities. It challenges dominant paradigms in security studies, such as the 'ethnic security dilemma,' by introducing the innovative concept of the 'intrastate insecurity complex.' Through a nuanced examination of the interplay among state, societal, and regime insecurities, and by combining both diachronic and synchronic perspectives, this volume provides vital insights for understanding the deeper, long-term dynamics of Ethiopian politics and conflict."

Dereje Feyissa, Center for Federal and Governance Studies, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.

"This volume is a must-read for all those who want to go beyond stereotypes and really understand how the current political crisis in Ethiopia has developed. The authors are proven experts on the subject and refuse to present simple answers. Instead, they emphasize the complexity of several dimensions of the conflict and the difficulties of doing political justice to them."

Ulf Engel, Professor of "Politics in Africa", Institute of African Studies, Leipzig University, Germany.