Like most of my fellow Ethiopians, I assume, I am trying to figure out the underlying reason behind the recent incidents that have claimed the lives of innocents and threatened the peace, stability, unity and harmony of nations, nationalities and people of Ethiopia. I cannot hide my fears that, unless swift responses are implemented, Ethiopia is on the edge of becoming a failed state. The reason, in my view, is the inaccurate understanding of history, or the interruption of it.
Of course, mass confusion is not new but has been a growing phenomenon in recent years and months. Amongst all the diagnosis and prescriptions analysts and politicians front though, the most sensible is one that has to do with how we have come to view our history.
For this, the political system is to blame, which in essence is all about how the politics of a country operates. This includes how federal groups engage in the political market. Those that are commendable allow and guarantee the wider populace all the means and tools to seize the ultimate power and role in exercising political rights. The corollary of that is an ideal political system where citizens are free from elitism; the rule of the game then becomes logic and principles.
Looking into the Ethiopia political system, what governs political elites, both on the ruling and the opposition lineup, has been otherwise. The political elites often count on the corrupt narratives and wrong interpretation of history. That is by far the source of the mass confusion threatening Ethiopia.
A glimpse into the political history of the country entails that politicians have incessantly fanned the flames of mass confusion, at least in two ways. One is how the governing circle has understood history, where they divide it into evil and good, while history is neither right nor wrong, but irrelevant altogether. The past may depict the fraternity or animosity between groups or people, but what matters is whether or not lessons have been learnt.
Hence, our past, which in some instances saw an Ethiopia at war with itself, and at another, the unity of the nation under one flag. History is a medium to learn.
To borrow words from the timeless Ethiopian poet Tsegye G/Medehin, roughly translated to, “a wise man learns from either, from school or his sufferings.”
Indeed, it is up to man himself to choose which medium to take lessons from. Perhaps as has been witnessed with the recent wave of unrests, unless engulfed in mass confusion, Ethiopians would not have opted to go down a path that reverberates, to this day, to create chaos.
The second source of mass confusion is the interpretation of history. The politicians often appear with an agenda that is supposedly tailored to heal past wounds. This has been by addressing specific groups as losers under previous regimes. Attempting to cure past mistakes by benefiting one over the other, they have allowed old wounds to fester. Indeed, such a flaw is without an excuse, as history repeats itself twice, and not always with an opportunity to learn from it.
With a past that can create confusion and hatred, it takes all Ethiopians and political groups to redefine the essence of history. There needs to be discussion and reflection. But any supposed quick fixes or shortcuts will lead to demise.
Another face of the Ethiopian political system is that there is a lack of commonly shared values, which would have bound the different political groups into one, irrespective of their diverse opinions and interests. Such a value system is an essential driver of people in all departments of their life; be it social, economic or political.
By fashioning the decision-making behaviour of people at all levels and aspects of life’s commonly shared values that all are willing to abide by, we can shape the nature, form and functionality of formal and informal institutions amounting to creating a welcome foundation for political, economic and bureaucratic governance.
Without values Ethiopians can share, they cannot find a political answer to their questions. Where such is the case, pointing fingers among competing political parties is nothing more than senseless. Those at the higher echelons of power are but a mere product of the prevailing political system, where rules, principles and logic have little say on sociopolitical issues.
To escape from the political impasse and consequent woes, what is expected from all Ethiopians, mainly the current generation is an understanding of the time concept and devising a uniting philosophy that can accommodate all languages, cultures and religions.
Time shows us the present via the image of yesterday; it empowers us with the wisdom to understand why and how history matters. With historical narratives that are often taken for granted, differences in the interpretation of history are not just the source of disagreements amongst political groups, but a polarising issue within the populace.
But the time concept is not a prison, and there are ways of breaking out of it. And doing so will not just shed light on the political landscape, but can be a great asset in promoting political stability, a better political system and a national consensus.
What is expected of ordinary citizens then?
As I consider nation-building to be the foremost task of our generation, Ethiopians have to correctly understand the time concept as it severely affects decision-making ability over key political issues, where stereotypes and personality cults play a negative role. A proper time concept will endow Ethiopians with the ingredients of fair judgment on historical incidents, creating a path towards political dialogues and reconciliation.
And let us not forget about a nationally shared value, where the United States (US) is a great example. After taking their independence from Great Britain in the 18th century, the Americans needed a philosophy to bring all their diverse communities – the Colonies – together. Great American personalities, like Benjamin Franklin, were at the forefront of this search. They came up with the idea of the genesis of the individual as the pillar of American political and economic order, a philosophy that endures to this day.
In countries like Ethiopia where diverse linguistic-cultural and religious groups exist, devising a commonly shared value presupposes all political and economic agendas. It will not only unite people as one country but also become the source of strong institutions that mould the economy and politics.
Ethiopians can learn a lot from the genesis of Western countries, which integrated those values that founded the democratic and healthy economic situations of today. This is a task for academicians, particularly social scientists and economists. Political groups have likewise to contribute their part. But the biggest role will have to be played by the youth, without whom any change is impossible.
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