Ideology and elite conflicts : autopsy of the Ethiopian revolution

The book provides a theoretical explanation of the major outcomes of Ethiopia's social revolution, namely, the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974 and the implementation of a far-reaching Marxist-Leninist revolution by a military committee (the Derg) and its collapse in 1991. The book extensively discusses the question of knowing whether existing theories of revolution throw light on the eruption of a radical revolution in Ethiopia and, most of all, whether they can accommodate the major anomaly of a socialist revolution being executed by a military committee that radicalized after the removal of the imperial regime. Hence the central thesis of the book: both the overthrow of the monarchical order and the radicalization of the Derg must be tied to social conditions that exasperated elite conflicts for scarce resources, with the consequence that the espousal of radical ideologies (socialism and ethnonationalism) became the sole avenue for the exclusive control of state power. Moreover, the book shows how the struggle of exclusive elites for the control of the state explains the Derg's need to put its fate in the hands of a providential leader, to wit, Mengistu Haile Mariam. In light of the theoretical debate over the role of charismatic leaders in history, the book establishes how Mengistu's narcissism led him to become the sole owner of the revolution and how his dictatorial rule brought about his own demise and that of the Derg, following the military defeat of the Ethiopian army in the hands of ethnonationalist insurgents. Another fundamental contribution of the book is a theoretical articulation of political conflicts and ideology that critically intervenes in the divisive issue of the primary cause of revolutions. Granted that ideology is more of a justification than a drive, the Ethiopian case illustrates how conflicts between mutually exclusive elites favor the path of political outbidding mobilizing utopian projects so as to galvanize the support of the masses. The perceived transcendence Moreover, this book shows how the struggle of exclusive elites for the control of the state explains the Derg's need to put its fate in the hands of a providential leader, to wit, Mengistu Haile Mariam. In light of the theoretical debate over the role of charismatic leaders in history, this book establishes how Mengistu's narcissism led him to become the sole owner of the revolution and how his dictatorial rule brought about his own demise and that of the Derg, following the military defeat of the Ethiopian army at the hands of ethnonationalist insurgents. Another fundamental contribution of this book is a theoretical articulation of political conflicts and ideology that critically intervenes in the divisive issue of the primary cause of revolutions. Granted that ideology is more of a justification than a drive, the Ethiopian case illustrates how conflicts between mutually exclusive elites favor the path of political outbidding, mobilizing Utopian projects so as to galvanize the support of the masses. The perceived transcendence of Utopia from partisan politics gives proof that ideology is a predatory form of thinking in that it hijacks values belonging to different cognitive and affective realms for the purpose of empowering exclusionary interests. Book jacket Ideology and Elite Conflicts provides a theoretical explanation of the major outcomes of Ethiopia's social revolution, namely, the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974 and the implementation of a far-reaching Marxist-Leninist revolution by a military committee (the Derg) and its collapse in 1991. Messay Kebede extensively discusses the question of whether existing theories of revolution shed light on the eruption of a radical revolution in Ethiopia and, most of all, whether they can accommodate the major anomaly of a socialist revolution being executed by a military committee that radicalized after the removal of the imperial regime. Hence the central thesis of the book: both the overthrow of the monarchical order and the radicalization of the Derg must be tied to social conditions that exacerbated elite conflicts for scarce resources, with the consequence that the espousal of radical ideologies (socialism and ethnonationalism) became the sole avenue for the exclusive control of state power Controversies over the nature of the Ethiopian social change -- Theories of revolution and the Ethiopian discrepancies -- Ideology and power struggle -- Subjective conditions of social revolutions -- The ideological origins of Haile Selassie's regime -- Sociopolitical origins of Haile Selassie's regime -- The politics of cooptation: strengths and weaknesses -- Social blockage and rising discontent -- The collapse of the imperial regime and the political assent of the military -- The Ethiopian military and the formation of the Derg -- Disputes over the radicalization of the Derg -- Power struggle and radicalization -- Conflicts for power and the rise of Mengistu Haile Mariam -- Narcissism and revolution -- Ethnonationalism and political competition -- The fall of Mengistu and the Derg -- Why social revolutions fail? -- Philosophical extensions Controversies Over The Nature Of The Ethiopian Social Change -- Theories Of Revolution And The Ethiopian Discrepancies -- Ideology And Power Struggle -- Subjective Conditions Of Social Revolutions -- The Ideological Origins Of Haile Selassie's Regime -- Sociopolitical Origins Of Haile Selassie's Regime -- The Politics Of Cooptation: Strengths And Weaknesses -- Social Blockage And Rising Discontent -- The Ethiopian Military And The Formation Of The Derg -- Disputes Over The Radicalization Of The Derg -- Power Struggle And Radicalization -- Conflicts For Power And The Rise Of Mengistu Haile Mariam -- Narcissism And Revolution -- Ethnonationalism And Political Competition -- The Fall Of Mengistu And The Derg -- Why Social Revolutions Fail? -- Philosophical Extensions. Messay Kebede. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.