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Socialism and Law in the Ethiopian Revolution

Socialism and Law in the Ethiopian Revolution 261 Socialism and Law in the Ethiopian Revolution Paul H. Brietzke Associate Professor of Law, Valparaiso University Valparaiso, Indiana Most contemporary analyses of Third World affairs tend to replicate the patterns of scholarship laid down during colonial times by those who carried their ethno- centric predispositions intact from Europe. Studies written in reaction to this state of affairs are often little better, involving as they do uncritical transplanta- tions of European notions of Marxism or social democracy. For example, Ethio- pia just prior to the Revolution was depicted by academics and journalists as a traditional political system successfully and wholesomely perpetuating and mod- ernizing itself.` Little change was foreseen after the demise of the 82-year-old emperor, even by Ethiopian and foreign Marxists. The African "experts" also badly misjudged the Ethiopian military. Ernest Lefever (now US Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights) found a soldier's dedication to promoting social stability under Haile Selassie which was "more patriotic than conspira- tional", "Keynesian rather than Marxist", and pragmatic rather than ideo- logical.2 The Ethiopian military was denied an independent power base or policy voice by Pierre Von den Berghe; its role was seen as the historic one of support ing http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Review of Socialist Law (in 1992 continued as Review of Central and East European Law) Brill

Socialism and Law in the Ethiopian Revolution

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Publisher
Brill
Copyright
© 1981 Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
0165-0300
eISSN
1875-2985
DOI
10.1163/187529881X00155
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

261 Socialism and Law in the Ethiopian Revolution Paul H. Brietzke Associate Professor of Law, Valparaiso University Valparaiso, Indiana Most contemporary analyses of Third World affairs tend to replicate the patterns of scholarship laid down during colonial times by those who carried their ethno- centric predispositions intact from Europe. Studies written in reaction to this state of affairs are often little better, involving as they do uncritical transplanta- tions of European notions of Marxism or social democracy. For example, Ethio- pia just prior to the Revolution was depicted by academics and journalists as a traditional political system successfully and wholesomely perpetuating and mod- ernizing itself.` Little change was foreseen after the demise of the 82-year-old emperor, even by Ethiopian and foreign Marxists. The African "experts" also badly misjudged the Ethiopian military. Ernest Lefever (now US Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights) found a soldier's dedication to promoting social stability under Haile Selassie which was "more patriotic than conspira- tional", "Keynesian rather than Marxist", and pragmatic rather than ideo- logical.2 The Ethiopian military was denied an independent power base or policy voice by Pierre Von den Berghe; its role was seen as the historic one of support ing

Journal

Review of Socialist Law (in 1992 continued as Review of Central and East European Law) – Brill

Published: Jan 1, 1981

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