2010/01/01 by Temesgen Gebeyehu · 2 citations
Social Sciences · #African history and culture analysis #Publishing #Power (physics) #History #Emperor #Classics #Government (linguistics) #Amharic #Political science #Media studies #Law #Ancient history #Sociology #Philosophy
paper · doi:10.1353/hia.2010.0035
published in History in Africa 37, 321-327 (Cambridge University Press)
openalex publication_date 2010/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
In 1974 the Ethiopian government of Emperor Haile-Sellasie was overthrown and replaced by the Provisional Military Administrative Council (PMAC). Also known as the Derg , the PMAC adopted socialism, embarked on radical social changes, and retained power for over two decades under its leader, Mengistu Hayle-Maryam, eventually was overthrown in 1991. The Ethiopian Revolution and the Derg are the topics of several authors, including those publishing close to the events, such as Raul Valdes Vivo, Fred Halliday and Maxine Molyneux, and John Markakis and Nega Ayele, and those writing later, such as Christopher Clapham, Edmond Keller, and Bahru Zewde, to name just a few publishing in English. But other publications, in Amharic and English, remain the focus of a lively academic and public debate in Ethiopia. Most of these writings were produced by participants in events, or, in one case, are transcripts of interviews with participants. Some of the raconteurs were revolutionaries, others were their opponents, and still others were members of the imperial regime. Taken together, these publications shed light on the genesis of the Ethiopian Revolution (the February 1974 movements), the consolidation of Derg (in November 1977), and its aftermath. This note examines some of these materials to bring them to the attention of readers of this journal.