Authors:Mohammed Dilu Abstract: Following the incorporation of the unconditional right to ethnic self-determination in the FDRE Constitution, previously under oppressed ethnic groups can establish regional or zonal self-administered government. Despite its success, there are still challenges in the practical application of ethnic based federalism in Ethiopia. Within this framework, this study aims to assess the impacts of ethnic based federalism in developing national identity in Silte zone. The qualitative approach with descriptive survey study research design was employed. Interview, observation, document analysis, legal analysis, and literature were used to collect data. Thematic method of data analysis was employed. By purposive sampling out of 10 woredas and 5 town administration six woredas were selected, four institutions were selected, 48 civil servants for interview were selected, 2 federalism experts were selected as the source of data. According to the finding of the study even though ethnic based federalism results in many challenges in the process of nation building in Ethiopia it ensures partially socio- economic, political and cultural development in Silte zone. The finding of the study also indicates that beside its positive outcome ethnic based federalism results negative impacts on nation building such as decline in national identity, it erodes common values, symbols and our common identities, imbalance between ethnic identity and national identity (imbalance between components of self-rule and shared rule), it results in excessive sense of division, isolation, and frustration to have property to exogenous people in Ethiopia. In addition to these ethnic based federalism results in competition and conflicts between ethnic groups, specifically about “resources: land, water, minerals, and federal budgets and about power. To construct national identity and to mitigate drawbacks of ethnic based federalism in Silte zone the finding of the study revealed several mechanisms such as balancing self-rule(ethnic identity) and shared rule(national identity), conducting national identity plat forum (national discourse on how to construct national identity in multinational states), reforms in early schooling system and educational curriculum, legal requirement for collective rights of exogenous groups, power sharing through zoning of political and bureaucratic posts, building democratic federalism, special programs designed to bring young people together, and ideologies designed to raise consciousness about tolerance, unity, loyalty, discipline, and obedience and designing mega projects like renaissance dam to unite the people are also mechanism to balance ethnic identity and national identity in Ethiopia and in Silte zone in particular. Based on the conclusions, the following recommendations are made to resolve the negative impacts of ethnic based federalism in developing national identity in Silte, such as the Silte zonal government should balance promoting ethnic identity with national identity, and the Silte zonal government should conduct consistent national discourse or national plat forum on how to construct national identity, the Silte zonal government should build democratic federalism, there should be institutions to promote national identity parallel with ethnic identity at federal, at regional and at zonal level, there should be curriculum revision in a way to integrate common values, history and culture in education system especially at students earlier schooling age, as common working language is an instrument for nation building and constructing national identity emphasis should be given for the teaching of Amharic (it is the federal working language),the federal government should design mega projects like Renaissance dam to unify the people in Ethiopia, there should be: legal recognition for collective rights of exogenous groups, power sharing through zoning of political and bureaucratic posts, Special programs designed to bring young people together, and ideologies designed to raise consciousness about tolerance, unity, loyalty, discipline, and obedience. Keywords: ethnic federalism, national identity, federalism, ethnic identity DOI : 10.7176/IAGS/100-01 Publication date:July 31st 2023
Authors:Ugwukah; C. Alexander, Etete, M. Adam Abstract: Nigeria’s role in international peace-keeping missions predates its independence in 1960. This has continued unabated in varying dimensions in several African countries and beyond until 2013 when Nigeria officially withdrew its troops of up to two battalions from UNAMID. In Congo, Darfur, Sierra-Leone, Liberia, Gambia, Mali and Guinea Bissau among others, Nigerian soldiers’ brilliant performances grew in significance in its participation and efforts to ensure that peace is restored in trouble spots in those countries. This paper attempts a critical historical analysis of Nigeria’s commitment and role, through human capital, financial resources as well as technical weapon/armament support to resolve conflicts in Africa. From that basis, the work progresses to assess the positive and negative impacts of each of the missions on both the states involved in the conflicts and the sending party, Nigeria. The impact analysis takes a more critical approach through the utilization of various international relations theories and prisms applicable to peace-keeping efforts. Further, the work appraises the rising cases of insecurity across the country and its borders other West African which led to the withdrawal of its troops from United Nations Peacekeeping operations. Finally, the work concludes that despite the security threats at home. Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa has led to its induction back to the UN Peacekeeping mission on March 15, 2023. Keywords: Nigeria, Peace-keeping, Conflict resolution, Military Capability and Impact Analysis DOI : 10.7176/IAGS/100-04 Publication date:July 31st 2023
Authors:Eyayu Kasseye Bayu Abstract: The genesis emergence of underdevelopment in the African region compared to Asia, Western and Latin America is not a new phenomenon in development discourse and regional integration, but can be traced back to antiquity as a development crisis. Africa is the richest region in natural resources but is classified as a developing country. This is because internal and external historical events have led Africa down the path of underdevelopment. This is the main argument of this paper is that to trace this facts. There is growing evidence that colonialism and its legacy, the economic system and political interventions, slavery and the industrial revolution were the external historical events, while corruption, political instability and civil war, inadequate infrastructure, unemployment and lack of technology were the internal historical events that led Africa into underdevelopment. These historical events were interdependent and a curse to the development of the African people. Despite the above causes, the authors of this paper has found that there is still hope for Africa's development through the linkage of culture and development, emphasis on strong institutions in African states, technology transfer, and a strategic people-centered approach to development to position them in the capitalist world system in the region. Therefore, Africa must develop economic and social well-being, peace and security through the human development approach. The people-centered institutions and transformative leadership should be necessary to reduce corruption, poor governance, and underdevelopment in Africa and promote regional integration schemes. Keywords: Africa, Development, History, Regionness, Underdevelopment DOI : 10.7176/IAGS/100-02 Publication date:July 31st 2023
Authors:Fouad Touzani Abstract: This paper examines the impact of US think tanks on US foreign policy in the MENA area using the Multiple-Streams theory with a focus on three Presidents. First, while Clinton and Obama heavily relied on foreign policy experts from many types of think tanks, Bush predominantly relied on advocacy think tanks, which had an impact on the Presidents’ foreign policies. Second, we found strong connections between policy recommendations of think tanks and foreign policies of the three Presidents; however, these connections cannot be causal relationships for two reasons. First, the alignment between the Presidents’ foreign policies and think tanks’ policy recommendations cannot always be attributed to the reputation of a particular think tank which aims at influencing policies. Second, it is unclear whether the shift in a president’s foreign policy in the region is due to the political constraint of the opposition party in Congress or it is because of the strong pressure from think tanks. Keywords: USA, think tanks, Middle East, foreign policy DOI : 10.7176/IAGS/100-03 Publication date:July 31st 2023
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