Freedom Of Expression In The Context Of Developmental State The Case Of Ethiopia

Both policy-makers and scholars have turned their attention to the Developmental State model asrna means for alleviating poverty in developing countries. Both theoretical analysis and thernempirical track record of the East Asian Development States point to the model‟s ability tornachieve growth and development in a very short period of time. However, these DevelopmentalrnStates were not “right-friendly”. Particularly, their treatment of civil and political rightsrnincluding freedom of expression has been criticized for not being in conformity withrninternational standards they subscribed to. The constitutional democracy that Ethiopia hasrnintroduced through the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Constitution has provided thernideals of democracy. Thus, democratic process is a precondition to every activity of therngovernment. Consequently, Ethiopia has pledged to adopt Democratic Developmental Staternrather than the mainstream Developmental State. The paper attempts to explore the status ofrnfreedom of expression in line with the recent political and legal history after the DevelopmentalrnState model is introduced in Ethiopia. Given the history of gross and systematic human rightsrnviolation in Ethiopia, the adoption of the Developmental State model is feared for having arnnegative effect on the status of freedom of expression in the country. The paper argues that mostrnof the signs are indicative of the materialization of this fear. And, given its diversity andrnplurality, Ethiopia cannot afford to delay the full application of freedom of expressionrnindefinitely. The adoption of the Developmental State model was necessitated by the urgencyrnand intensity of the need to address the country‟s chronic poverty. However, without buildingrndemocracy and its necessary components, including the freedom of expression, the developmentrncannot be sustainablernKey wordsrnDevelopmental state, freedom of expression, revolutionary democracy, civil and political rights,rnsocio-economic rights, instrument to development, Ethiopia

Get Full Work

Report copyright infringement or plagiarism