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VOL. 11, ISSUE 4 (2025)
An examination of Ethiopia's political and economic trajectory: A comparative analysis of the Derg, EPRDF, and prosperity party regimes
Authors
Bizuayehu Biazen Yizengaw
Abstract
This article examines the political and
economic trajectory of Ethiopia over the past fifty years, offering a
comparative analysis of its three distinct ruling regimes: the military junta
known as the Derg (1974–1991), the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic
Front (EPRDF) coalition (1991–2018), and the current Prosperity Party
government under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (2018–present). The study evaluates
each regime's impact on political stability, economic growth, and diplomacy,
incorporating macroeconomic data from the World Bank and International Monetary
Fund (IMF). The analysis reveals a cyclical pattern of authoritarian
consolidation followed by violent fragmentation. The Derg presided over state
collapse, characterized by extreme political instability and economic ruin. The
EPRDF engineered a period of high, state-led economic growth but did so within
a repressive political framework that ultimately proved unsustainable. The
current Abiy regime, which began with liberalizing reforms, has overseen a
descent into widespread internal conflict, a severe economic crisis, and a
volatile foreign policy. The article concludes that despite different
ideological underpinnings, all three regimes have struggled to resolve Ethiopia's
fundamental questions of ethnic federalism, political inclusion, and equitable
development, leading to a precarious future for the nation-state.
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Pages:33-35
How to cite this article:
Bizuayehu Biazen Yizengaw "An examination of Ethiopia's political and economic trajectory: A comparative analysis of the Derg, EPRDF, and prosperity party regimes". International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research, Vol 11, Issue 4, 2025, Pages 33-35
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