AMHARA NATIONALISM: CAUSES, CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

In Ethiopia’s ever-changing political setting, one up to date phenomenon is the stimulation of Amhara nationalism. Compared to other sub-state nationalisms, namely, Oromo, Tigrayan, Somali and Sidama, it’s a latecomer. The basic target of this research is to investigate and explore Amhara nationalism; its major causes, challenges and prospects. So as to come up with reliable finding, a qualitative research approach with exploratory and descriptive research designs were used, in which both primary and secondary sources were assessed. The researcher used in-depth interviews, personal observation and document analysis as an instrument for data collection. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques, a type of non probability sampling technique were used to select the participants. The data obtained from both sources were analyzed thematically. As far as the result of this study implies the major causes of Amhara nationalism are the following; the very narrative of Ethiopia’s current federalism, repeated identity based attacks and existential threat, mass eviction and human rights violation. Besides this, it has so many challenges that enthusiastically needs great cooperation’s, commitment and unity; among these: delusion of grandeur, existence of self denial, presence of ignorant elites, availability of falsified documents, denial of representation and fraudulent representations, sabotaged developmental activities, brain washing stories even with in educational curricula’s since 1991. It also has its own prospects, among these; it will assure the equality and freedom of all Amharan’s and it also in collaboration with other ethno nationalist and unionist political entities will assures the Ethiopian statehood or unity to the relative near future.