AAU Institutional Repository (AAU-ETD)
Addis Ababa University Institutional repository is an open access repository that collects,preserves, and disseminates scholarly outputs of the university. AAU-ETD archives' collection of master's theses, doctoral dissertations and preprints showcase the wide range of academic research undertaken by AAU students over the course of the University's long history.
How to Submit Your Work
The repository contains scholarly work, both unpublished and published, by current or former AAU faculty, staff, and students, including Works by AAU students as part of their masters, doctoral, or post-doctoral research
- All AAU faculty, staff, and students are invited to submit their work to the repository. Please contact the library at your college.
You may contact digirep@aau.edu.et.with any questions about the repository
Colleges,Institutes in AAU-ETD
Select a college,institute to browse its collections.
Recent Submissions
The Dynamics of Pan-Ethiopianist and Ethno-Centric Political Elites Contradiction and Transition to Democracy in Ethiopia since 1991
(Addis Abeba Universty, 2025-04-01) Yalelet Gashaw; Yonas Ashnie
The politics of transition to democracy in Ethiopia between 1991 and 2024 has been marked by the interplay of two competing ideological frameworks: Pan-Ethiopianism and ethno-centric nationalism. This thesis explores the contradictions between these ideologies, their impact on political elites, and the challenges they pose to transition of the country’s politics. The paper has empirically examined the nature of elite political contestation and its implication on the contemporary political transition in Ethiopia. Specifically, the study comparatively analyzes the nature of elite contradiction from historical and ideological point of view, explored the nature of elite contradiction and power struggle and examined the impact of those elite contradictions on transition to democracy in Ethiopia.Theoretical literature reveals that contestation between the elites in terms of ethnicity, history, ideology and symbol politics hinder the democratic transition in the country. The study has employed the qualitative comparative exploratory research approach to address the research questions that deal with pan-Ethiopianist and Ethno-nationalist elite’s contradiction and the possibility of democratic Transition in Ethiopia under the study period. Primary data is collected from purposely selected key informants and first hand documents. Secondary data is collected from plethora of written documents available on internet and AAU Kennedy library. Thematic discourse analysis method is used to analyse the collected data. The study shows that pan-ethiopianist and ethno-centric group of elites in Ethiopia have their own ideological and historical roots. Secondly the two elites contradict each other in a number of agendas including Ethiopian history, national symbol politics, constitutional making, nation building, the federal structure and power sharing. Then the research reveals that though pan-ethiopianist and ethno-nationalist group of Ethiopian elites tactically collaborated to cause leadership change within EPRDF regime, strategic cooperation and bargaining is a never possible development because of division, polarization, war political culture, politically motivated killings, political instability, fragile democratic institutions, constitutional crisis and gripe of power among others. Hence, the contemporary political ecology of the country is not conducive to transition to democracy given extreme ideological difference between elites. Therefore, reconfiguration of the national politics and inclusive political bargaining on critical national agenda are paramount important as far as Ethiopia as a nation state is concerned.
Analyzing the cyber Security and its Capacity Barriers to Ethiopia's Cyber Sovereignty
(Addis Abeba Universty, 2025-06-01) Tsion Genene; Fekade Terefe
Ethiopia's ability to secure its cyberspace is essential to its strategic pursuit of opportunities in the digital world because, in addition to endangering national sovereignty, a lack of cyber protection will also jeopardize the enormous potential that comes with digital engagement .This study analyze Ethiopia's vulnerabilities to cybersecurity and how they can affect the state sovereignty. Employing a qualitative research approach, the study draws on data from key informant interviews and existing literature. The finding highlighted that Ethiopia's increasing dependence on the digital realm poses a direct challenge to its national sovereignty, largely due to a fragile cybersecurity framework stemming from obsolete technology, insufficient skilled personnel, and inadequate inter-agency collaboration. The nation's weaknesses go beyond simple data breaches, encompassing threats to essential infrastructure and the potential for foreign interference. The study concludes that in order to safeguard its digital future, Ethiopia must promptly implement a strategic and all-encompassing approach, which includes enforcing a national cybersecurity policy, investing in technological advancements and public awareness initiatives, and enhancing its international collaborations to address global cyber threats.
The Politics of Foreign aid in Ethiopia and its Implications on Human Rights and Democracy: the Case of United States Since 1991
(Addis Abeba Universty, 2023-10-01) Tsedal Andualem; Firehiwot Sintayehu
Since 1990 donors, particularly the USA and World Bank have started increasingly to focus on political conditions for providing aid. Basically, human rights performance and democratization were formally brought into the program of negotiations with recipient countries. This research aimed to analyze the politics of foreign aid in Ethiopia and its implications on democracy and human rights: the case of United States aid since 1991. The paper looked at the link between foreign aid and Ethiopia’s government, political, and diplomatic dynamics and implications. The findings of this research demonstrated that the US democracy aid has little/no implication on governmental transitions to democratization, multiparty system, and HR promotion in Ethiopia since the1991, and continued throughout 2000’s and the study also founded a contradictory results on the allocation, flow, aim, and implication of US aid in Ethiopia. The research further analyses the Ethio- US bilateral relations focusing on the issue of democracy, human rights, and good governance (DRG) assistance and its implications in the aftermath of the establishment of the transitional government of Ethiopia in 1991. The study provides an extensive analysis of the US foreign policy towards human rights and democracy and political conditionality and the US’s suspension of assistance to Ethiopia, its objective, and its impact on the economic, political, and humanitarian aspects of Ethiopia.
Sierra Leone’s Foreign Policy to ECOWAS from 2018-2022
(Addis Abeba Universty, 2025-05-01) Patricia Ansumana; Yonas Ashine
Sierra Leone is one of the member states of ECOWAS. ECOWAS has a broad mandate encompassing economic, political and security cooperation,making it a more holistic and integrated regional body. It also has a strong emphasis on conflict prevention and resolution, deploying peacekeeping forces (ECOMOG) and mediating disputes among member states. This proactive approach to maintaining peace and security sets it apart from some regional organizations that primarily react to conflicts after they erupt. This research critically appraises Sierra Leone's foreign policy toward ECOWAS between 2018 and 2022. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness, coherence, and contribution of Sierra Leone's engagement with ECOWAS in achieving both national and regional goals during this period. Specifically, this study aims to achieve three interrelated objectives: the first one is evolution of Sierra Leone's foreign policy towards ECOWAS in recent years. Secondly, assess the key domestic and international factors shaping Sierra Leone's engagement with ECOWAS since 2018. Thirdly, the paper discusses the effectiveness of Sierra Leone's foreign policy in achieving its national interests through ECOWAS.The study employs a qualitative research design, and methodology involved (both primary and secondary data collection methods, e.g., analysis of policy documents, interviews with key officials, and review of relevant literature). The study reveals that Sierra Leone's foreign policy significantly influences its national interests, prioritizing security, and promoting regional cooperation to convert ECOWAS engagement into economic benefits. The analysis was validated applied theories like Liberalism, Realism, constructivism, and rational theory. The study Recommend that strengthening Sierra Leone's ECOWAS engagement include enhancing domestic coordination mechanisms, or prioritizing capacity building in key sectors. The research contributes to a deeper understanding of Sierra Leone's foreign policy choices and their implications for regional integration and development within ECOWAS.
Tourism as a Tool for Public Diplomacy: the Case of Addis Ababa Since 2018
(Addis Abeba Universty, 2025-05-01) Temesgen Mariye; Firehiwot Sintayehu
Adopting a soft power and constructivist theoretical framework, this article examines how tourism has been employed as a tool of public diplomacy in Addis Ababa since 2018. To collect relevant data, the study employed a qualitative research methodology. Primary data was gathered through key informant interviews with officials from the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Local communities and the Addis Ababa City Administration. In addition, relevant policy documents and academic literature were analyzed as secondary sources. The analysis supports the theoretical assumption that tourism, when strategically developed and framed, can serve as an effective mechanism for state image-building and foreign engagement. The study finds that flagship projects and initiatives such as Unity Park, Friendship Park, Entoto Park, the Adwa Victory Memorial and MICE Tourism by the Government are actively curated to communicate Ethiopia’s historical narrative, development agenda, and regional solidarity. Nonetheless, the findings also suggest that political instability, institutional fragmentation, and the absence of a unified tourist policy hinder the efficacy of tourism diplomacy. Furthermore, the analysis reveals a disparity between the symbolic representation of national advancement and the fundamental governance issues that hinder sustained influence. Consequently, although tourism possesses significant potential as a soft power tool, its efficacy is contingent upon political stability, strategy alignment, and inclusive execution