Theodros rises to expand his rule up untill he falls under british invasion. Kassai Mercha rises, kills Wagshum Gobeze (deliberately omitted from Ethiopian ruling dynasty) of the Agew ruler. Kasai Mercha appoints Teklehymanot of Gojam as co-ruler but later gets wild and ransacks Gojam. Menelik of Shew establish Shewa kingdom then advances to Kaffa which was coveted by Kassai and to be made under Kassai rule via Teklehymanot of Gojam which lead to the fight out between Menelik and Teklehymanot. Eventually Kassai dies fighting with Mahdits and Menelik advances North and makes a deal with Gojam ruler. Menelik signs into Solomonic dynasty and enters 20th century. The succeeding rulers did not come and go in peace. Generally oppressive, dictatorship and known for in fighting killing intermarrying to stabilize power. Zenawi came to power as ዳግማዊ ካሳ ጉዱ and destroyed the country back to ሁሉም 0 ዚሮ or square number one.
When Ethiopians hopped for peace, democracy, merritocracy and civil governance, then rose another killer and dictator from Kaffa of similar behavior. Now The southern part of the country officially joined the fray. Even worse Eritrea joined kind of the same መቆራቆስ
Now Gojam wants it it’s turn by way of Zemene kasse likening himself a bit better than Niguss T. Haymanot.
THAT IS the country’s story in short-nothing new and don’t expect any civil government. መገዳደልና ተረኛነት is the historical legacy::
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Despite its long history of independence and survival, Ethiopia has struggled to develop a stable, modern civil government due to a combination of deeply rooted historical, cultural, and political factors. Infighting, rather than consensus-based decision-making, has historically determined political succession and policy, preventing the establishment of lasting, neutral institutions.
Key reasons for this failure to modernize include:
Entrenched Culture of Conflict and "Winner-Takes-All" Politics: Political competition in Ethiopia often involves the total elimination or imprisonment of opponents. A "binary classification of enemy versus friend," inherited from decades of armed struggle by various factions, has hindered the development of a pluralist, democratic culture.
Legacy of Feudalism and Centralized Imperial Rule: For centuries, Ethiopia operated under a decentralized feudal system where local rulers (Rases) held considerable authority, resisting modernization efforts from the center. When centralization did occur under emperors like Haile Selassie, it was often through coercive, top-down approaches that prioritized imperial control over building a robust civil administration.
Ethnic Federalism and Internal Divisions: The 1995 constitution introduced a system of ethnic federalism, which aimed to address historical grievances but has often exacerbated ethnic divisions, changing resource disputes into territorial conflicts. This structure has created "winners and losers," leading to intense,, recurring inter-ethnic conflict and instability.
Incomplete Transformation of Political Leaders: Post-1991, the coalition that took power (EPRDF) retained a revolutionary, authoritarian style of leadership, struggling to transition from a guerrilla movement to a democratic government. This led to the party becoming fused with the state, inhibiting the development of independent, professional institutions.
Failed Policies and Lack of Meritocracy: Throughout the 20th century, particularly under the Derg regime (1974-1991), Ethiopia was marred by failed, command-economy policies that resulted in famine and economic collapse. Furthermore, in many cases, "loyalty to leaders... and not competency" became the key criteria for filling state positions.
External Factors and Isolation: Despite not being colonized, Ethiopia was largely isolated during the 20th century, surrounded by hostile colonial territories. It was also repeatedly dragged into proxy conflicts of the Cold War and suffered from regional insecurity, which consumed resources and hindered development