Abstract
The study of Ethiopia’s political system since 1991 has focused on a number of issues revolving around its federal arrangement. For example, the federal state structure, often termed ‘ethnic federalism’ (Turton 2006), and federal–local relations including fiscal relations have been the focus of attention (Solomon 2006). The situation of minorities in the new regional states, boundary disputes and general relations between regional states, and the modalities of federal involvement in regional affairs have all been common themes in the study of Ethiopia’s federal political system (Markakis 2012). While such studies contributed to understanding the political dynamics in the post-1991 period in Ethiopia, the workings of subnational institutions, especially the regional state legislatures, have not been studied adequately. This chapter seeks to generate discussion on the inner workings of regional government institutions by exploring the role of state councils/legislatures vis-à-vis national power exercised through Ethiopia’s federal framework. It finds that despite two decades of institutionalization, these subnational state institutions lack autonomy and independence.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Aalen, L. 2000. ‘Ethiopia’s Paradox: Constitutional Devolution and Centralized Party Rule,’ Paper presented at the 14th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies, Addis Ababa.
Abdi, I. S. 2004. ‘Ethiopian Federalism: Autonomy versus Control in the Somali Region,’ Third World Quarterly 25(6): 1131–1154.
Dereje, F. 2006. ‘The Experience of Gambella Regional State.’ In Turton, D. (ed.) Ethnic Federalism in Ethiopia: The Ethiopian Experience in Comparative Perspective, 208–230. London: James Currey.
FDRE. 1995. Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Negarit, Addis Ababa.
Fekade, S. 2013. ‘Ethiopia: Behind the Ethnic Cleansing in Benishangul-Gumuz’, http://nazret.com/blog/index.php/ethiopia-behind-the-ethnic-cleansing-in-benishangul-gumuz?blog=15, accessed August 2014.
Gardner, J. A. 2008. ‘In Search of Sub-National Constitutionalism,’ European Constitutional Law Review (4): 325–343.
Gervasoni, C. 2010. ‘A Rentier Theory of Subnational Regimes: Fiscal Federalism, Democracy, and Authoritarianism in the Argentine Provinces,’ World Politics 62(2): 302–340.
Markakis, J. 2012. Ethiopia: The Last Two Frontiers. London: James Currey. ‘Office of the Speaker and Secretariat of the Caffee of the National Regional State of Oromia,’ 2011 (Information Bulletin).
‘Office of the Speaker and Secretariat of the Caffee of the National Regional State of Oromia,’ 2013 (Information Bulletin).
Paulos, C. 2001. ‘The Challenges of the Civil Service Reform: Initial Observation,’ EASSRR 8(1): 79–103.
———. 2007. ‘Clientelism and Ethiopia’s Post-1991 Decentralization,’ Journal of Modern African Studies (45): 355–384.
Polhemus, J. H. 2003. ‘Ethiopia’s Emerging Regional Councils: New Players in Conflict Management,’ First National Conference on Federalism, Conflict & Peace Building, 5–7 May 2003, Addis Ababa
‘Proclamation to Provide for the Registration and Regulation of Charities and Societies,’ Proc. No. 621/2009, Federal Negarit Gazeta, 15 February 2009, Addis Ababa.
Reuter, O. J. and Robertson, G. B. 2012. ‘Subnational Appointments in Authoritarian Regimes: Evidence from Russian Gubernatorial Appointments,’ Journal of Politics 74(4): 1023–1037.
‘Revised Constitution of the National Regional State of Oromia,’ 2001, Addis Ababa.
Schmidt, V. 2010. ‘Taking Ideas and Discourse Seriously: Explaining Change through Discursive Institutionalism as the Fourth “New” Institutionalism,’ European Political Science Review 2(1): 1–25.
Solomon, N. 2006. Fiscal Federalism in the Ethiopian Ethnic Based Federalism. Oisterwijk, The Netherlands: Wolf Legal Publishers.
Transitional Government of Ethiopia/TGE. 1991. The Transitional Period Charter of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa.
———. 1992. Proclamation No. 7/1992. A Proclamation to Provide for the Establishment of National/Regional Self-Governments, Addis Ababa.
———. 1993. Proclamation No. 41/1993. A Proclamation to Define the Powers and Duties of the Central and Regional Executive Bodies of the TGE, Addis Ababa.
Tsegaye, R. 2004. ‘State Constitutions in Federal Ethiopia: A Preliminary Observation,’ Paper presented at Bellagio Conference, March 2004.
Turton, D. (ed.). 2006. Ethnic Federalism: The Ethiopian Experience in Comparative Perspective. London: James Currey.
Yohanis, Y. 2010. ‘Legitimacy of Subnational Constitutions in the Ethiopian Federation: The Case of Amhara Regional Government Constitution’. Addis Ababa University (Unpublished MA Thesis)
Young, J. 1998. ‘Regionalism and Democracy in Ethiopia,’ Third World Quarterly 19(2): 191–204.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2015 Solomon M. Gofie
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gofie, S.M. (2015). Central Control and Regional States’ Autonomy in Ethiopia. In: LeVan, A.C., Fashagba, J.O., McMahon, E.R. (eds) African State Governance. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137523341_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137523341_7
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-55313-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-52334-1
eBook Packages: Palgrave Political Science CollectionPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)