Wansamo, Kifle and Clapham, Christopher (2007) Towards building stability in a multinational / ethnic society : conflicts in Sidaamaland, Ethiopia. PhD thesis, Lancaster University.
Abstract
Transformation of identity-based protracted social conflicts in a multinational/ethnic society benefits from geographical area-based three-level knowledge (i.e., knowledge of historical context of conflict development, a deeper understanding of the current conflict through an in-depth conflict analysis, and local social capital including cultural worldview). This thesis, therefore, takes a particular conflictridden area in Ethiopia (a micro-level study) and complements the general (macro-level) studies of conflicts in the country and the Horn of Africa. The analysis of the unpeaceful relations and their outcomes in Sidaamaland of the current Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) in Ethiopia indicates the absence of meaningful participatory structures, lack of the rule of law, and the poverty of top-down approach in addressing the needs (social, economic, political and security) of the Ethiopian peoples. The horizontal unpeaceful relations in Sidaamaland are mainly a spill-over of the unresolved vertical protracted conflicts (Sidaama vs the government), and are not from what is called ‘old ethnic hatred.’ Basically, the communities in conflict raise more or less similar issues, but lack of the use of avenues for dialogue between them causes misperceptions and lack of understanding. Given the existing local and national provisions (which the thesis will also present)— that can meaningfully be used in transforming unpeaceful relations in Sidaamaland/SNNPR and ultimately in Ethiopia— the current conflicts need not be violent.