When we think of Ethiopia we tend to think in cliches: Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, the Falasha Jews, the epic reign of Emperor Haile Selassie, the Communist Revolution, famine and civil war. Among the countries of Africa it has a high profile yet is poorly known. How- ever all cliches contain within them a kernel of truth, and occlude much more. Today's Ethiopia (and its painfully liberated sister state of Eritrea) are largely obscured by these mythical views and a secondary literature that is partial or propagandist. Moreover there have been few attempts to offer readers a comprehensive overview of the country's recent history, politics and culture that goes beyond the usual guidebook fare. Understanding Contemporary Ethiopia seeks to do just that, presenting a measured, detailed and systematic analysis of the main features of this unique country, now building on the foundations of a magical and tumultuous past as it struggles to emerge in the modern world on its own terms.
When we think of Ethiopia we tend to think in cliches: Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, the Falasha Jews, the epic reign of Emperor Haile Selassie, the Communist Revolution, famine and civil war. Among the countries of Africa it has a high profile yet is poorly known. How- ever all cliches contain within them a kernel of truth, and occlude much more. Today's Ethiopia (and its painfully liberated sister state of Eritrea) are largely obscured by these mythical views and a secondary literature that is partial or propagandist. Moreover there have been few attempts to offer readers a comprehensive overview of the country's recent history, politics and culture that goes beyond the usual guidebook fare. Understanding Contemporary Ethiopia seeks to do just that, presenting a measured, detailed and systematic analysis of the main features of this unique country, now building on the foundations of a magical and tumultuous past as it struggles to emerge in the modern world on its own terms.
Gerard Prunier is a renowned historian of contemporary Africa and author of the acclaimed The Rwanda Crisis: History of a Genocide and Darfur: The Ambiguous Genocide, both published by Hurst. Eloi Ficquet is an anthropologist and historian, professor at the EHESS, and Director of the French Center for Ethiopian Studies in Addis Ababa. He is the author of A French-Amharic Dictionary and of many articles on Ethiopian history and culture.
'Prunier and Ficquet in Understanding Contemporary Ethiopia aim to
present a "wide-angle snapshot" of one country by bringing together
a diverse range of authors to explain it on its own terms. The book
includes thorough, detailed and highly contextual studies of
Ethiopian history, politics, religions and economics.'
*Times Literary Supplement*
'Understanding Contemporary Ethiopia is an impressive volume, one
which contains a wealth of information on the historical, cultural
and religious underpinnings of the landlocked country in the Horn
of Africa ... The editors have assembled an impressive series of
contributions.'
*Nick Branson, LSE Review of Books*
'This volume on all things Ethiopian by a group of noted experts is
a tour de force. Focussing on the nature of power in Ethiopian
state and society, the contributors provide powerful and
provocative accounts that chart the process of rapid societal
change as Ethiopia assumes its place as a rising regional power. In
doing so they uncover a new model of economic development and
state-building, pointing to the importance of the Ethiopian state
in conditioning violence, social change and economic accumulation.
A must-read.'
*Will Reno, Professor, Director of the Program of African Studies,
Northwestern University*
'Ethiopia can no longer be caricatured or mythologised. No one
could have envisioned the extent to which this country would be
transformed nearly twenty-five years after the end of its long
civil war. To help us make sense of the dynamics shaping
contemporary Ethiopia, this much-needed volume brings together
important insights from the world's most notable experts on the
country's culture, history, politics, and society. They offer a
comprehensive and accessible account that should be widely
read.'
*Leonardo R. Arriola, University of California, Berkeley*
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