The Origins of the EPRDF and the Prospects for the Prosperity Party. (August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lyons, Terrence
• Other Names: Breuning Marijke guest-editor.; Ishiyama John guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of Asian and African studies. Volume 56:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: 1051
• Page End: 1063
• Publication Date: 2021-08
• Subjects: Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front -- Prosperity Party -- multi-national federalism -- authoritarianism; Social change -- Africa -- Periodicals; Social change -- Asia -- Periodicals; Economic development -- Africa -- Periodicals; Economic development -- Asia -- Periodicals; Africa -- Social conditions -- Periodicals; Asia -- Social conditions -- Periodicals; Africa -- Periodicals; Asia -- Periodicals; 950
• DOI: 10.1177/00219096211007658
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9096

Abstract

This paper presents the historical development of the authoritarian Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) with particular attention to its origins in civil war and its use of multi-national federal structures to balance centralizing dynamics and demands for regional autonomy. It argues that the reform process launched by Prime Minister Abiy and the formation of the successor Prosperity Party failed to overcome the challenges and political logics that undermined the EPRDF. The article concludes by examining the prospects of the center to manage these contradictions and bind together the distinct and highly polarized regions and political interests.