Abiy Ahmed's Domestic Policy in Ethiopia: Securitization and conflict resolution

Abstract

The subject of this study is a set of political reforms carried out by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed from 2018 to the present. The object of the study is the internal political contradictions accumulated in Ethiopia from 1974 to 2018. The purpose of the work is to test the hypothesis that the policy of A. Ahmed is subject to the provisions of the theory of securitization of B. Buzan and O. Weaver and is aimed at transforming the conflict education of Ethiopia into a security regime. The topic of the study is relevant, since Ethiopia is considered by a number of scientists as a potential regional heavyweight capable of stabilizing the Horn of Africa region and ultimately influencing the security of the whole of Africa. Therefore, it is important to study the dynamics of political processes in modern Ethiopia. The research is based on the theory of regional security complexes by B. Buzan and O. Weaver. The methods of work are qualitative content analysis of official documents and expert opinions, as well as event analysis, logical and philosophical assumptions are allowed. A realistic approach is used to analyze the internal political situation in Ethiopia. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the fact that the policy of Abiy Ahmed is analyzed not from the standpoint of historical approaches, but from the point of view of political science theory, which is applied to the political process taking place in our time. The author concludes that the political course of A. Ahmed is determined by the difficult situation in which Ethiopia found itself by 2018. The Prime Minister is trying to stabilize the situation in the country, using his rich experience and professional knowledge, trying to change Ethiopia's position as a conflict entity to a security regime, his internal policy traces approaches based on strengthening the central government, which, from the point of view of the theory of B. Buzan and O. Weaver, makes Ethiopia a functional entity capable of respond to existential threats and develop successfully.