Understanding Contemporary Ethiopia: Monarchy, Revolution and the Legacy of Meles Zenawi - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1849042616 ISBN 13: 9781849042611

Publisher: C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd, 2015

Synopsis

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.

About this title

Review

'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

'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.' --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

From the Author

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.

Edition details

• Publisher: C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1849042616
• ISBN 13: 9781849042611
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 416
• Editor: Prunier Gerard, Ficquet Eloi