Shuffling the deck or steps towards democracy? Understanding political developments in Ethiopia

 

Shuffling the deck or steps towards democracy? Understanding political developments in Ethiopia


2018.03.07 bffdemocracy Shuffling the deck.jpg

   

Date: Wednesday 7th March 2018
Time: 08:30 – 09:30
Place: Bergen Resource Centre for International Development, Jekteviksbakken 31, Bergen

All parties and all regimes consist of factions. In authoritarian regimes, keeping the factions happy and avoiding defections is critical for the survival of the regime. The ruling EPRDF regime in Ethiopia has faced both widespread factional infighting and public protest over the past few years. This recently culminated with current prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn handing in his resignation, sparking widespread speculation about who would succeed him. In this ‘Breakfast for Democracy’ we will discuss what is driving these events, how the current infighting within the EPRDF affect and are affected by the popular protests, and whether this should be seen as just another shuffling of the authoritarian deck or a step towards democracy in Ethiopia.

Lovise Aalen (CMI) and Michael Alvarez (UiB) in conversation with Svein-Erik Helle (CMI/UiB).

Coffee and croissants will be served!

Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2055437121381660/?ref=br_rs

Here is the event on BRC’s pages: http://www.resourcecentre.no/events/shuffling-the-deck-or-steps-towards-democracy-understanding-political-developments-in-ethiopia/

Our new breakfast series: Breakfasts for Democracy (#bffDemocracy)

Democratic institutions and human rights are increasingly under pressure in both the developed and the developing world. In this breakfast seminar series, we will discuss current events in light of our current knowledge of the politics of processes of democratization and autocratization. Through conversations with scholars engaged in ongoing research on the topic, the seminar series will provide new and research-based insights on current events in the ongoing struggle for democracy and human rights.

Breakfast hosts: Svein-Erik Helle and Lisa-Marie Selvik

“Breakfasts for Democracy” is organised through the joint CMI/UiB research project ‘Breaking BAD: Understanding the Backlash Against Democracy in Africa’, in collaboration with Bergen Resource Center and Centre for Law and Social Transformation.