Browsing by Author "Zikarge, Berhane"

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    Public and Self-perceptions of the F.D.R.E. Defence Force
    (Addis Ababa University, 2016-06) Zikarge, Berhane; Adaye, Yonas (PhD)
    There is a significant perception gap between the public and the Ethiopian Defence Force itself with respect to the attractiveness, prestige and legitimacy of the military institution. This research mainly focused on the views of selected senior preparatory students, their parents, veterans and military personnel. The survey results are analyzed to answer three questions: How do the students, parents and veterans perceive the F.D.R.E. Defence Force and the military profession? How do the Defence and the military personnel view themselves with regard to the image, prestige or attractiveness of the institution and the military profession? What is the perception gap? And what implications does it have for recruitment and retention? The study uses prestige and legitimacy as a conceptual framework of analysis to examine a range of possible factors affecting the perception gap between the students, parents, veterans and the Defence institution. The findings show that low salary, and poor quality of life of military personnel; and lack of support and recognition for the veterans partly explain the declining prestige of the Defence. The overall image which emerges from this very limited case study is that the military profession is not attractive. Moreover, this study also revealed that there is a widely held perception that the Defence Force is not free from partisanship and there is a prevailing perception that the Defence is not representative enough at its officer corps level, which in turn does seem to affect its legitimacy. Mounting evidence was also found that these deficiencies have profound implications for personnel recruitment and retention. However, the Defence institution does not seem to share these perceptions, differing on the depth, and implications of these shortcomings, claiming that the institution still attracts enough recruits, it maintains high standing as regards prestige, and it enjoys solid legitimacy. Finally, the study concludes that there is a wide perception gap between the public and the Defence with regard to the core issues under consideration, except, the apparent consensus on the perception of Defence capabilit
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    The Scope of Religious Freedom and its Limits under the FDRE Constitution: A Survey of Contemporary Problems and Challenges
    (Addis Ababa University, 2009-01) Zikarge, Berhane; Fiseha, Dr. Assefa
    This paper strives to look into the contemporary legal and practical challenges that basically arise from the interaction between the freedom of religion and the principle of secularism under the Ethiopian constitutional system. In so doing, of course, the Ethiopian legal system is examined in light of the international human rights instruments and standards. Moreover, it examines a myriad of competing interests in order to understand the depth of the challenges they posed. Furthermore, the paper attempts to identify a number of factors and emerging trends that contribute to the religion related tensions and conflicts that ensue in recent years. The paper argues that constitutionally speaking the strict model of secularism is a viable option for Ethiopia given its religious diversity and the normative value of pluralism. Moreover, it argues in favor of the need for specific legislative frame work that offers a clear guidance by defining the precise contours of the scope and limits of the right as well as the implicit and explicit consequences of secularism. It further argues that, the inherent tension between our secular State and freedom of religious expression is natural; however, this relationship gives rise to a patchwork of competing interests that are in several occasions incommensurable or rationally incompatible, thus, it is high time to formulate a specific guideline that serves as a road map for those who are supposed to assume the responsibility of enforcement and those who seek to enjoy their legitimate religious rights. We are not under illusion, however, that all the difficult issues of religious expression and secularism will be resolved through legal mechanisms per se. Thus, other means are also worth considering; though, we can’t postulate a fully mature one here, some extra legal solutions are provided in the recommendatory section. Nonetheless, both the legislative frame work and its reinforcing consensus guideline will offer a legal safe harbour for every one.