Political Reform and the Spiral of Violence in the Post-2018 Ethiopia

Emanating from widespread protests, Ethiopia introduced a sweeping reform in 2018 to transform its stalled political system. However, the much-anticipated reform has been entangled with growing violence. Using political economy approach as an analytical framework, this article examines the dynamics surrounding the 2018 reform and the ensuing surge in violence from the vantage point of the “quest for change.” Informed by qualitative research approach, data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. Document reviews of academic and official reports, internet blogs, and mainstream media were undertaken to substantiate the primary sources. The findings indicate that the reform, which neither resulted from genuine deliberation nor was based on an institutional framework, has been marred by ethno-political unrest and civil wars. Arguing that authoritarian persistence, the lack of institutional basis, and the emergence of non-state entities as (in)security actors affect its trajectory, the article contends that this cycle of reform, which was supposed to transform Ethiopia’s stalled politics, is also another missed opportunity.