FORTUNE+ VIDEO SPONSORED CONTENTS FORTUNE AUDIO TRADE AFRICA new

Fortune Logo
A political space where almost everyone is free to engage is not automatically beneficial to the development of democracy. It encouraged and fostered polarization.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's (PhD) administration took an action rarely undertaken by any other regime in the country’s history. It suddenly removed the restraints - some legal and others only implied - on political organisation and free speech.


Every individual and group with a political agenda took this opportunity to expound on historical memory, their own understanding of present socio-political circumstances, and the best possible future outcome for the Ethiopian state.


But the opening up of the political space did not mean that everyone would be willing to play by the rules. Moderation has taken a back seat, and the political space has been dominated not necessarily by the most rational and most consistent in their line of arguments but by the loudest political players. A political space where almost everyone is free to engage is not automatically beneficial to the development of democracy. It encouraged and fostered polarization. The wisdom in “toleration makes differences possible; and, differences make toleration necessary” heeded not much among Ethiopia’s elite.



PUBLISHED ON Jan 05,2020 [ VOL 20 , NO 1028]

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.



Related Posts

Put your comments here

N.B: A submit button will appear once you fill out all the required fields.

Editors' Pick

Agenda

Is the Coffee Bonanza Here to Stay?

Jul 2 , 2022 . By RUTH TAYE

On a rainy afternoon last week, a coffee processing facility in the capital's Akaki-Qality District was abuzz with activ...

Editorial

Financial Sector-sourced Glucose Drips No Remedy to Save Economy

Nov 27 , 2021

Against my will, I have witnessed the most terrible defeat of reason and the most sa...

Editorial

Contingency Economic Plan Necessary to Reconcile with Political Storm

Nov 13 , 2021

Plans and reality do not always gel. They rarely do in a fast-moving world. Every act...

Agenda

Banks Miss Deadline, Mergers Prove Unattainable

Oct 16 , 2021 . By HAWI DADHI

Residing in a country with no capital market, an organised marketplace for trading se...

Commentaries

Fairer Green Finance Against Climate Change

The global conference on climate change in Egypt looks to be a defining moment in wha...

Hosting Internet Governance Forum without Internet Access

As Ethiopia hosts a forum on Internet governance next week, three fourth of its more...

Fineline

Leaders of the National . . .

Leaders of the National Election Board are in a charm offensive mood, of a sort. Last week, they organised a rare tour for members of the me...

When the country’s most. . .

When the country's most senior diplomats and envoys return back to their posts after two-week debriefings, they leave behind a point or two...

Editorial

To Liberalize Finance Holy, Regulating It Is Divine

Nov 26 , 2022

In the wake of the liberalization of the telecom sector, Ethiopian authorities have m...

Restore Faith in Constitutional Institutions to Achieve Social Cohesion

Nov 19 , 2022

The rounds of talks to end wars in Ethiopia held in Pretoria, South Africa, and Nairo...

Nairobi Must Double Down on Pretoria

Nov 12 , 2022

Two weeks have passed since negotiators from Ethiopia's federal government and the TP...

Pretoria Deal Represents Courage, Despair and Anxiety

Nov 5 , 2022

Hardly were people prepared for the deals announced last week from Pretoria, South Af...

Gallery

Parliament Approves New Cabinet Members

Oct 6 , 2021

Parliament Approves New Cabinet, Incorporates Opposition Leaders Lawmakers have approved today the nominations of 22 ministers, including three opposition leaders. Two MPs have voted against, while 12 abstained...

2020 in Posterity

Jan 5 , 2021

TIGRAY VOTES DESPITE "NULL & VOID" THREAT

Sep 9 , 2020

IN-PICTURE: LAUREATE'S RECEPTION  

Dec 14 , 2019

PM Abiy Ahmed (PhD) at a Gala Dinner Called for the Awarding of the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize

May 6 , 2019

Faces, Voices of Addis Abeba

Apr 26 , 2019

Sunday With Eden

Amid Talent Dearth, Investment Promotion Falters

I received a call from my foreign national friend who wanted me to accompany him to t...

No Pain No Gain: Hard Work Pays Off

I received a book copy the other week that is yet to be released. It is a biography authored by the noted politician An...

Life Matters

Uncalled Judgment Exposes a Materialist Society

It is difficult to find a society void of stereotypes. The level and how much those p...

At the Gate, Power Misused

I experienced power abuse in the company where I work part-time. After showing my identification card to the security personnel, I entered t...