A01=John Markakis
Abyssinian Origin
Age Group_Uncategorized
Age Group_Uncategorized
Arid Lowlands
Author_John Markakis
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Category1=Non-Fiction
Category=HBJH
Category=NHH
COP=United Kingdom
Delivery_Delivery within 10-20 working days
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Ethiopia
Ethiopian State
Government
Horn of Africa
Imperialism
Language_English
Modern Nation State
Monopoly of Power
Multicultural Empire
Nation State Formation
Nationalism
PA=Available
Political History
Political Instability
Price_€20 to €50
PS=Active
softlaunch
State Borders
Violent Conflict
Product details
- ISBN 9781847010742
- Weight: 485g
- Dimensions: 138 x 216mm
- Publication Date: 15 Aug 2013
- Publisher: James Currey
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Paperback
- Language: English
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An historical overview of Ethiopia's transformation from a multicultural empire into a modern nation state.
Provides the gist of one scholar's knowledge of this country acquired over several decades. The author of numerous works on Ethiopia, Markakis presents here an overarching, concise historical profile of a momentous effort to integrate a multicultural empire into a modern nation state. The concept of nation state formation provides the analytical framework within which this process unfolds and the changes of direction it takes under different regimes, as well as a standard for assessing its progress and shortcomings at each stage.
Over a century old, the process is still far from completion and its ultimate success is far from certain. In the author's view, there are two major obstacles that need to be overcome, two frontiers that need to be crossed to reach the desired goal. The first is the monopoly of power inherited from the empire builders and zealously guarded ever since by a ruling class of Abyssinian origin. The descendants of the people subjugated by the empire builders remain excluded from power, a handicap that breeds political instability and violent conflict. The second frontier is the arid lowlands on the margins of the state, where the process of integration has not yet reached, and where resistance to it is greatest. Until this frontier is crossed, the Ethiopian state will not have the secure borders that a mature nation state requires.
John Markakis is a political historian who has devoted a professional lifetime to the study of Ethiopia and its neighbours in the Horn of Africa. He has published several books and many articles on this area.
