The Governance Trap

Much of the history of the world is about wars. Nations derived their identities through successive wars. The first and second World Wars were carried out with much more destructive weaponry that brought untold sufferings to millions of people. Religions also fought to get their supremacy.

With clashes of ideologies, culture and belief systems which the world was unprepared to accommodate, the only response was war of all against all. But human beings are rational creatures capable of adapting to new situations.

Hence, devising principles and mechanisms that can maintain world peace and protect sovereign states from aggression became critical. As a result, the inception of the League of Nations and later the establishment of United Nations (UN) became real. Though it is far from perfect in its execution, the UN Charter and the principles enshrined in it served the world to maintain some order.

Despite the progress the human race has achieved, especially in the past century, religious intolerance, racism, ethnic tensions, terrorism and brutal killings are on the rise.

But what will mass beheadings by the Islamic State (IS) achieve in establishing the state it wishes in this modern world?

As one of the nations hurt by this shameful act, we find the answers from within, not from them. After all, according to tradition, Ethiopia was not considered part of ‘Dar al-Harb’, as the Ethiopian king provided sanctuary to the followers of the Prophet. But that could not save us.

It is known that Ethiopia is built on the teachings of the main religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and of course many traditional beliefs. Besides, this part of the Horn of Africa is shaped by continuous internal battles and wars with foreign invaders.

Once asked by a journalist if there is fear that this country structured on ethnic federalism will disintegrate, the late Prime Minster Meles Zenawi answered by saying, “Ethiopianism is not built on sand.” The fact is neither is it built on concrete. The values and myths will continue.

In the past, the ambitious, emotionally-ridden and forceful efforts to replace the age-old values and belief systems by Marxist-oriented principles have left a scar on the society’s cooperation, solidarity, and trust. In view of the fact that the country has paid dearly for bad policies and strategies followed in the past, there are many “never agains”, in addition to the Red Terror. After the separation of Eritrea from Ethiopia, for example, no one ever thought that the two war- ravaged countries would ever be at war. They are now in a no war and no peace situation. This is one major reason that made younger generations lose hope and take desperate measures of migration.

People want to live a decent life and they want it now. It is foolish to expect 20th Century patriotism in the 21st Century. And national feeling has a limit in the ever-globalising world. If politicians love the people truly, as they repeatedly claim, let the people decide their destiny.

Yet, what is disturbing is there are groups sheltering in neighbouring countries preparing to fight fellow Ethiopians. This is a collective failure.

It often is said that change is inevitable. But it seems that too much change has a disrupting effect on social life.

The problem is not in introducing modern change tools. But the way the tools are pushed at society, through institutions, creates disappointment.

Certainly, Ethiopia is growing fast and people want it to go even faster. But they also want its development to be complemented with responsive government service provision.

The former Kebele administration, for instance, exercised unmitigated power to arrest indefinitely, to kill and to confiscate property. Back then, people were obliged to spend their time at Kebele courts to ascertain ownership of mud houses for kitchen and toilet spaces.

The current Wereda administration has gone far, especially in organising the youth in small enterprises and performing local development projects. However, people are suffering from poor services.

Getting payment for the job performed in local projects is not easy. If one is asked to return three times to get a receiving voucher for local development contributions, suffice it to judge the performance of the administrations.

Guarantees provided to small enterprises by the government for the performance of a bid are missing their intended targets. Some residents are also constrained by lack of valid ID cards. Even getting ID card renewal is not easy unless they return to their localities. There are myriad circumstances that upset citizens. .

As much as the world of war has faded fast, despite patches of volatility here and there, it seems that states are now held accountable on the basis of services. The winner, therefore, is the one that serves its citizens properly, effectively and responsively.


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