The Ethiopian revolution, 1974-1991 : from a monarchical autocracy to a military oligarchy

First published in 1997. Ethiopia, the only country in Africa to survive the nineteenth-century European scramble for the continent, has a long, unique, and complex history. This stretches back over three million years to Lucy, or as the Ethiopians call her Dinkenesh, the earliest known ancestor of the human race, to the political turmoil of late twentieth-century Africa. Teferra Haile-Selassie writes partly as a historian, but also, and perhaps more importantly, as a sincere and sensitive observer, who lived through the later historical events which he describes, and indeed played a notable role in several of them. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Foreword Preface and Acknowledgement Abbreviations Glossary of Terms List of Illustrations Chapter 1. Historical Perspective From the Aksumite Period to the End of Zemene Mesafint The Reign of Emperor Tewodros II (1855–68) The Reign of Emperor Yohannis IV (1872–89) The Reign of Emperor Menilek II (1889–1913) Succession to Menilek The First Part of the Reign of Emperor Haile Selassie I (1930–35) The Italian Occupation of Ethiopia (1935–41) The Second Part of the Reign of Emperor Haile Selassie I (1941–1974) Notes Chapter 2. The Price of Modernisation Institutional Changes The Economy The Working Class The Intelligentsia The Peasantry Ethnicity The Problem in Eritrea The Problem of the Ogaden Region External Relations Notes Chapter 3. From an Absolute Monarchy to a Military Dictatorship Mutiny and Urban Revolt The Cabinet Resigns The Emperor Appoints a New Prime Minister Government–CELU Agreement Employers’ Federation Challenges Government–CELU Agreement More Strikes, Demonstrations and Purges Creation of a Committee and a High Security Commission An Inquiry Commission A Constitution Drafting Conference Co-ordinating Committee Steps up Arrests of Officials Formation of the Dergue The Dergue Proposes a New Prime Minister A Campaign of Vilification Against the Emperor The Dergue Deposes the Emperor and Assumes Power Public Support for the Dergue National Advisory Shengo Opposition to the Rule of the Dergue Ethiopia Tikdem Redefined Competition for Leadership of the Dergue Notes Chapter 4. Critical Stage of the Revolution Appointment of a New Chairman for the Dergue Yelewit Hawariat (Apostles of Change) National Work Campaign for Development Through Co-operation (Zemecha) Hibretesebawinet (Ethiopian Socialism) The New Economic Policy Nationalisation of Rural Land Nationalisation of Urban Land and Extra Houses New Labour Law Implications of the Gains of the Revolution Marxist-Leninist Organisations Join the Revolution POMOA Controls Mass Organisations Relapse into Power Struggle and Purges The Purge of the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Revolutionaries Compete for Power Restructuring of the Dergue Internal and External Threats Socialist Countries Express Solidarity and Support Control of the People’s Office for Mass Organisational Affairs Confrontation with the Sudan and Somalia The Campaign in Eritrea Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of the National Economy National Literacy Campaign Notes Chapter 5. Major Political Developments of the Revolution A Prelude to the Formation of a Vanguard Party COPWE’s Plan of Work Formation of a Vanguard Party Turning a Blind Eye to Famine Settlement Scheme Villagisation Notes Chapter 6. The People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Constitutional Development War and Peace The Coup d’état of the Generals Too Little Too Late Measures Taken in Desperation The Flight of the President The London Peace Talks Notes Bibliography Index Ch. 1. Historical Perspective. From The Aksumite Period To The End Of Zemene Mesafint. The Reign Of Emperor Tewodros Ii (1855-68). The Reign Of Emperor Yohannis Iv (1872-89). The Reign Of Emperor Menilek Ii (1889-1913). Succession To Menilek. The First Part Of The Reign Of Emperor Haile Selassie I (1930-35). The Italian Occupation Of Ethiopia (1935-41). The Second Part Of The Reign Of Emperor Haile Selassie I (1941-1974) -- Ch. 2. The Price Of Modernisation. Institutional Changes. The Economy. The Working Class. The Intelligentsia. The Peasantry. Ethnicity. The Problem In Eritrea. The Problem Of The Ogaden Region. External Relations -- Ch. 3. From An Absolute Monarchy To A Military Dictatorship. Mutiny And Urban Revolt. The Cabinet Resigns. The Emperor Appoints A New Prime Minister. Government-celu Agreement. Employers' Federation Challenges Government-celu Agreement. More Strikes, Demonstrations And Purges. Creation Of A Committee And A High Security Commission. An Inquiry Commission. A Constitution Drafting Conference. Co-ordinating Committee Steps Up Arrests Of Officials. Formation Of The Dergue. The Dergue Proposes A New Prime Minister. A Campaign Of Vilification Against The Emperor. The Dergue Deposes The Emperor And Assumes Power. Public Support For The Dergue. National Advisory Shengo. Opposition To The Rule Of The Dergue. Ethiopia Tikdem Redefined. Competition For Leadership Of The Dergue -- Ch. 4. Critical Stage Of The Revolution. Appointment Of A New Chairman For The Dergue. Yelewit Hawariat (apostles Of Change). National Work Campaign For Development Through Co-operation (zemecha). Hibretesebawinet (ethiopian Socialism). The New Economic Policy. Nationalisation Of Rural Land. Nationalisation Of Urban Land And Extra Houses. New Labour Law. Implications Of The Gains Of The Revolution. Marxist-leninist Organisations Join The Revolution. Pomoa Controls Mass Relapse Into Power Struggle And Purges. The Purge Of The Patriarch Of The Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Revolutionaries Compete For Power. Restructuring Of The Dergue. Internal And External Threats. Socialist Countries Express Solidarity And Support. Control Of The People's Office For Mass Organisational Affairs. Confrontation With The Sudan And Somalia. The Campaign In Eritrea. Reconstruction And Rehabilitation Of The National Economy. National Literacy Campaign -- Ch. 5. Major Political Developments Of The Revolution. A Prelude To The Formation Of A Vanguard Party. Copwe's Plan Of Work. Formation Of A Vanguard Party. Turning A Blind Eye To Famine. Settlement Scheme. Villagisation -- Ch. 6. The People's Democratic Republic Of Ethiopia. Constitutional Development. War And Peace. The Coup D'etat Of The Generals. Too Little Too Late. Measures Taken In Desperation. The Flight Of The President. The London Peace Talks. Teferra Haile-selassie. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.