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The repository contains scholarly work, both unpublished and published, by current or former AAU faculty, staff, and students, including Works by AAU students as part of their masters, doctoral, or post-doctoral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
Tourism as a tool for Public Diplomacy: the Case of Addis Ababa Since 2018
(Addis Ababa University, 2025-05-01) Temesgen Mariye; Firehiwot Sintayehu (PhD)
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
Keywords: Tourism Diplomacy, Soft Power, Public Diplomacy, Nation Branding, Foreign Policy
Ethiopia’s Peace Cooperation and Maritime Diplomacy with Maritime Neighboring Countries since 2018: Successes and Challenges
(Addis Ababa University, 2021-11-01) Tesfaye Tola; Hussein Jemma (PhD)
This research aims at examining whether Ethiopia’s Peace Cooperation and Maritime Diplomacy with
maritime neighboring countries mainly with Eritrea since 2018 satisfy Ethiopia's need to get the right to
access the sea through Eritrea ports that serve both for commercial and military activities, and the
reason why land-locked Ethiopia needs to build a navy and where Ethiopian navy will be based. The field
data were collected through key informant interviews and Main findings of the study include, Ethiopia
and Eritrea able to end the period of ‘no peace no war’ after the leaders of the two countries signed
peace deal agreements in 2018. But, Ethiopia did not begin to use Eritrean ports both for economic and
military activities. The reasons for the lack of official execution of the agreement signed to implement the
boundary decision has not been executed due to internal conflict in Ethiopia, Ethiopia and Eritrea did
not sign a package agreement that consists of port utilization protocols, and Eritrean ports are also
lacking infrastructures. The study also found out that Ethiopia re-established its navy by Proclamation
No. 1100/2019, to protect Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, to protect Ethiopian cargo ships, and to
protect Ethiopian national interest in the Horn African maritime region. Yet, Ethiopia did not sign a
single treaty with any maritime countries that help Ethiopia to get an operational naval base. Therefore,
Ethiopia’s peace cooperation and maritime diplomacy made with Eritrea since 2018 did not satisfy
Ethiopia's need to get access to the sea through Eritrea ports, which serve Ethiopia both for its economic
and military objectives yet. Also, the base of the new Ethiopian navy is still unknown. This implies that
Ethiopia needs to work hard to avoid all the challenges that impede its Peace Cooperation and Maritime
diplomacy, and to make every possible effort to achieve the objective to get sea access through the
maritime domain of Eritrea that would serve Ethiopia both for commercial and military purpose.
Foreign Policy Approaches of China and U.S.A. towards Ethiopia Since 2018: a Comparative Analysis
(Addis Ababa University, 2024-06-01) Yohannes Gebeyehu; Yacob Arsano (PhD)
The foreign policy interests of China and U.S.A. towards Ethiopia have been anchored on geo
strategic interests. Despite having similar strategic interests in Ethiopia, China and the U.S.
pursued different foreign policy approaches towards Ethiopia. What accounts for the divergence
of the approaches was not explored very well. Therefore, this study aimed at explaining the
divergence in foreign policy approaches of China and U.S.A. towards Ethiopia since 2018. A
qualitative methodology, a comparative method of research, thematic and content analysis are
utilized as part of the research design in this study. Primary sources including personal interviews,
policy documents, official reports, speeches of leaders, and secondary sources of data are
analyzed using the tools of foreign policy and international relations theories. The analysis
revealed that China pursues an approach of detachment to deal with internal conflict, non
interference in domestic affairs, state centric approach in its engagement, developmentalist
approach in the administration of foreign development assistance and high regard for Westphalian
conception of state sovereignty. In contrast, the US pursued a policy of humanitarian intervention
in its response to domestic conflicts, unilateral realism in its response to emergency, safety-net
approach in the administration of humanitarian aid, the state-in-society approach in its
engagement, and coercive power in enforcing its desire. The result indicated that the divergence
of the foreign policy approaches of China and U.S.A. mainly resulted from differences in political
culture, foreign policy priorities, role conception in the international system, historical
experiences, self-image, strategic rivalry, differences in foreign policy decision making
mechanisms and Ethiopia’s behavior.
Keywords: foreign policy approach/behavior, U.S. foreign policy towards Ethiopia,
Chinese foreign policy towards Ethiopia, comparative foreign policy approach
A Study of the Practice of Public Diplomacy at American Corners in Ethiopia amid Diplomatic Tensions during the Northern Conflict
(Addis Ababa University, 2025-06-01) Yohannes Gezahegn; Demeke Achiso (PhD)
This study examined American Corners in Ethiopia as public diplomacy platforms during the
northern conflict (2020–2022), a period of conflict and strained U.S.–Ethiopia relations. It
explored the impact of the conflict on American Corner operations, strategies used to sustain
programming, and the role of U.S. hard power in shaping soft power practices. Using qualitative
design, the research drew on unstructured interviews with Corner coordinators, staff and
supervisors. Thematic analysis revealed disruptions, particularly in Tigray where the Mekelle
Corner was forced to shut down, while others adapted through digital tools and revised
programming. Regardless of some hostile attitudes towards the U.S. over its perceived handling
of the crisis, the American Corners in the country retained their credibility due to their non
political, community-focused identity. There were no reports of whether physical or any other
forms of attack against staff or facilities run by the Embassy. The study concluded that American
Corners remained neutral, accessible spaces and vital instruments of U.S. public diplomacy
under crisis, recommending continued support for such platforms in fragile contexts.
Keywords: Northern Conflict, United States, Public Diplomacy, American Corners
Prevalence, Pattern and Risk Factors Associated with Peripheral Neuropathy among Leprosy Patients: A Retrospective Study
(Addis Ababa university, 2023-06-11) Seid Endris; Soressa Abebe
Leprosy, also known as Hansen disease, is a bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. The disease affected mankind for over 4000 years. Leprosy is believed to be originated initially in Eastern African regions and spread worldwide by means of migration of people. Leprosy causes skin and nerve infections. It was investigated that the Hansen’s bacilli, Mycobacterium leprae, predominantly targeted peripheral nerves.