Asymmetrical Patterns of Ethnic and National Attachment in Ethiopia: Description of Causes and Patterns

Abstract

Ethnic attachment is powerful motivators of political behavior in Ethiopia. There are evidences which display dramatic changes in identification in favor of ethnicity in Ethiopia. However, the source of their salience in political and social affairs remains debated. This article aims to describe the causes of asymmetric patterns of ethnic and national attachment in Ethiopia‟s four ethnic groups that comprises more than 80% of its population. The article used a synthesis of primary and secondary datum to describe the causes of attachment asymmetry. It found that there are distinctive far historical and near contemporary conditions that influence the politics of group attachment in Ethiopia. Among Tigres, Oromos and Somalis attachment to own identity is not strongly influenced by the current political development which is the major reason for Amharas‟ growing attachment to their own sub-identity.