TY - BOOK

T1 - Towards building stability in a multinational / ethnic society

T2 - conflicts in Sidaamaland, Ethiopia

AU - Wansamo, Kifle

PY - 2007

Y1 - 2007

N2 - Transformation of identity-based protracted social conflicts in a multinational/ethnic society benefitsfrom geographical area-based three-level knowledge (i.e., knowledge of historical context of conflictdevelopment, a deeper understanding of the current conflict through an in-depth conflict analysis, andlocal social capital including cultural worldview). This thesis, therefore, takes a particular conflictriddenarea in Ethiopia (a micro-level study) and complements the general (macro-level) studies ofconflicts in the country and the Horn of Africa. The analysis of the unpeaceful relations and theiroutcomes in Sidaamaland of the current Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region(SNNPR) in Ethiopia indicates the absence of meaningful participatory structures, lack of the rule oflaw, and the poverty of top-down approach in addressing the needs (social, economic, political andsecurity) of the Ethiopian peoples. The horizontal unpeaceful relations in Sidaamaland are mainly aspill-over of the unresolved vertical protracted conflicts (Sidaama vs the government), and are notfrom what is called ‘old ethnic hatred.’ Basically, the communities in conflict raise more or lesssimilar issues, but lack of the use of avenues for dialogue between them causes misperceptions andlack of understanding. Given the existing local and national provisions (which the thesis will alsopresent)— that can meaningfully be used in transforming unpeaceful relations in Sidaamaland/SNNPRand ultimately in Ethiopia— the current conflicts need not be violent.

AB - Transformation of identity-based protracted social conflicts in a multinational/ethnic society benefitsfrom geographical area-based three-level knowledge (i.e., knowledge of historical context of conflictdevelopment, a deeper understanding of the current conflict through an in-depth conflict analysis, andlocal social capital including cultural worldview). This thesis, therefore, takes a particular conflictriddenarea in Ethiopia (a micro-level study) and complements the general (macro-level) studies ofconflicts in the country and the Horn of Africa. The analysis of the unpeaceful relations and theiroutcomes in Sidaamaland of the current Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region(SNNPR) in Ethiopia indicates the absence of meaningful participatory structures, lack of the rule oflaw, and the poverty of top-down approach in addressing the needs (social, economic, political andsecurity) of the Ethiopian peoples. The horizontal unpeaceful relations in Sidaamaland are mainly aspill-over of the unresolved vertical protracted conflicts (Sidaama vs the government), and are notfrom what is called ‘old ethnic hatred.’ Basically, the communities in conflict raise more or lesssimilar issues, but lack of the use of avenues for dialogue between them causes misperceptions andlack of understanding. Given the existing local and national provisions (which the thesis will alsopresent)— that can meaningfully be used in transforming unpeaceful relations in Sidaamaland/SNNPRand ultimately in Ethiopia— the current conflicts need not be violent.

M3 - Doctoral Thesis

PB - Lancaster University

CY - Lancaster

ER -