A Country Study: Ethiopia

• Ethiopia
• Acknowledgments
• Preface
• Country Profile - Visit new updated Profile (PDF)
  • Country
  • Geography
  • Society
  • Economy
  • Transportation and Communications
  • Government and Politics
  • National Security
• Introduction

• Chapter 1 - Historical Setting (John W. Turner)
  • Origins and the Early Periods
    • Early Populations and Neighboring States
    • The Aksumite State
    • Ethiopia and the Early Islamic Period
    • The Zagwe Dynasty
    • The "Restoration" of the "Solomonic" Line
    • Amhara Ascendancy
  • The Trials of the Christian Kingdom and the Decline of Imperial Power
    • Growth of Regional Muslim States
    • Oromo Migrations and Their Impact
    • Contact with European Christendom
  • The Making of Modern Ethiopia
    • The Reestablishment of the Ethiopian Monarchy
    • From Tewodros II to Menelik II, 1855-89
    • The Reign of Menelik II, 1889-1913
    • The Interregnum
    • Haile Selassie: The Prewar Period, 1930-36
  • Italian Rule and World War II
    • Italian Administration in Eritrea
    • Mussolini's Invasion and the Italian Occupation
    • Ethiopia in World War II
  • The Postwar Period, 1945-60: Reform and Opposition
    • Change and Resistance
    • Administrative Change and the 1955 Constitution
    • The Attempted Coup of 1960 and Its Aftermath
  • Growth of Secessionist Threats
    • The Liberation Struggle in Eritrea
    • Discontent in Tigray
    • The Ogaden and the Haud
  • Revolution and Military Government
    • Background to Revolution, 1960-74
    • The Establishment of the Derg
    • The Struggle for Power, 1974-77
    • Ethiopia's Road to Socialism
  • The Mengistu Regime and Its Impact
    • Political Struggles Within the Government
    • War in the Ogaden and the Turn to the Soviet Union
    • Eritrean and Tigrayan Insurgencies
    • Social and Political Changes
  • Ethiopia in Crisis: Famine and Its Aftermath,1984-88
    • Famine and Economic Collapse
    • Government Defeats in Eritrea and Tigray
    • The People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
    • Changes in Soviet Policy and New International Horizons

• Chapter 2 - The Society and Its Environment (Yohannis Abate)
  • Physical Setting
    • Boundaries: International and Administrative
    • Topography and Drainage
    • Climate
  • Population
    • Size, Distribution, and Growth
    • Urbanization
    • Resettlement and Villagization
  • Refugees, Drought, and Famine
  • Ethiopia's Peoples
    • Ethnic Groups, Ethnicity, and Language
      • Ethio-Semitic Language Groups
      • Cushitic Language Groups
      • Omotic Language Groups
      • Nilo-Saharan Language Groups
      • Occupational Castes
    • Ethnic and Social Relations
      • Interethnic Relations
      • Social Relations
  • Social System
    • Rural Society
    • Urban Society
    • The Role of Women
  • Religious Life
    • Demography and Geography of Religious Affiliation
    • Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity
      • Organization of the Church and the Clergy
      • Faith and Practice
    • Islam
      • Basic Teachings of Islam
      • Local Character of Belief and Practice
    • Indigenous Religions
    • Foreign Missions
  • Education
    • Education During Imperial Rule
    • Primary and Secondary Education since 1975
    • Higher and Vocational Education since 1975
    • Literacy
    • Foreign Educational Assistance
  • Health and Welfare

• Chapter 3 - The Economy (Mulatu Wubneh)
  • Growth and Structure of the Economy
    • Developments up to l974
    • Postrevolution Period
  • Role of Government
    • The Budgetary Process
    • Revenue and Expenditures
    • Banking and Monetary Policy
  • Labor Force
    • Unemployment
    • Labor Unions
    • Wages and Prices
  • Agriculture
    • Land Use and Land Reform
      • Land Use
      • Land Reform
    • Government Rural Programs
      • Peasant Associations and Rural Devlopment
      • Cooperatives and State Farms
      • Resettlement and Villagization
    • Agricultural Production
      • Major Cash Crops
      • Major Staple Crops
      • Livestock
      • Fishing
      • Forestry
      • Government Marketing Operations
  • Industry and Energy
    • Manufacturing
    • Industrial Development Policy
    • Energy Resources
    • Mining
  • Transportation and Telecommunications
    • Roads
    • Railroads
    • Ports
    • Air Transport
    • Telecommunications
  • Foreign Trade
    • Exports
    • Imports
    • Balance of Payments and Foreign Assistance
  • Economic Prospects

• Chapter 4 - Government and Politics (Edmond J. Keller)
  • The Workers' Party of Ethiopia
    • Toward Party Formation
    • The Vanguard Party
  • The 1987 Constitution
    • The Social Order
    • Citizenship, Freedoms, Rights, and Duties
    • National Shengo (National Assembly)
    • Council of State
    • The President
    • Council of Ministers
    • Judicial System
  • Regional and Local Government
    • Regional Administration
    • Peasant Associations
    • Kebeles
  • Civil Service
  • The Politics of Development
    • The Politics of Drought and Famine
    • The Politics of Resettlement
    • The Politics of Villagization
  • Political Dynamics
    • Political Participation and Repression
    • The Eritrean Movement
      • Eritrea and the Imperial Regime
      • Eritrea and the Mengistu Regime
    • The Tigrayan Movement
    • Other Movements and Fronts
      • Oromo Groups
      • Afar Groups
      • Somali Groups
      • Leftist Groups
    • Regime Stability and Peace Negotiations
  • Mass Media
  • Foreign Policy
    • Diplomacy and State Building in Imperial Ethiopia
    • The Foreign Policy of the Derg
    • The Derg, the Soviet Union, and the Communist World
    • The Derg and the West
    • Ethiopia's Border Politics
    • Addis Ababa and the Middle East
  • The Demise of the Military Government

• Chapter 5 - National Security (Thomas P. Ofcansky)
  • Military Tradition in National Life
  • The Armed Forces
    • The 1987 Constitution and the Armed Forces
    • Command and Force Structure
    • Army
    • Air Force
    • Navy
    • People's Militia
    • Training
    • Morale and Discipline
    • Manpower Considerations
    • Defense Costs
  • Foreign Military Assistance
    • United States
    • Soviet Union
    • Cuba
    • East Germany
    • North Korea
    • Israel
  • External and Internal Opponents
    • The Eritreans
    • The Tigray
    • The Oromo
    • The Somali
  • Public Order and Internal Security
    • The National Police
    • People's Protection Brigades
  • Crime and Punishment
    • The Legal System
    • Prisons
  • Human Rights

• Appendix. Tables
• Bibliography
• Glossary