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Review, Aethiopica, Vol 3 (2000)

Review, Aethiopica, Vol 4 (2001)

An analysis of the Ustinov-Hall family networks in respect to Ethiopia shows a surprisingly intense involvement of family members in Ethiopian history, beginning with a German immigrant to Ethiopia during the zämänä mäsafǝnt until the late Ḫaylä Śǝllase’s government. In this article not only the factual involvement of family members is documented. Even more important, the impact of inter-cultural, inter-national origins on the creation of a genealogically based network of individuals ready to serve as cultural “bridges”, or better: practical intermediaries between two cultural spheres, is illustrated with these examples. The reconstruction of the genealogical origins of the family-network in a Šäwan (leading?) family gives occasion for the discussion and clarification of transliteration problems, traditions of name-giving and traditions of (originally oral) genealogical historiography., Aethiopica, Vol 8 (2005)

Obituary, Aethiopica, Vol 7 (2004)

Dissertation Abstract, Aethiopica, Vol 10 (2007)

This article focuses on an ancient, yet unexplored Aksumite site in Eastern Tigray, visited during an ethnohistorical research carried out between 2004 and 2006. It lies at an unknown ancient (Aksumite) route and might have been the seat of a provincial leader. The site lies in an area not known yet for Aksumite ruins, as it lies rather remote from main routes today. The site consists of a stelae and a ruin hill with remains of an unidentified ancient building. This publication aims at awaking interest in research on that site, including researching oral sources. The interest lies in the possibility to learn more about the provinces of Aksum., Aethiopica, Vol 10 (2007)

Review, Aethiopica, Vol 13 (2010)

Der Beitrag beschreibt die politische Situation bzw. Instabilität in Äthiopien nach den Parlaments- und Regionalwahlen vom 15. Mai 2005, die von der Frage bestimmt ist, ob das Land auf dem Weg zu einem demokratischen Staat ist oder diktatorisch regiert wird. Die Ausführungen basieren auf schriftlichen Berichten, Interviews und Gesprächen mit Informanten im Rahmen einer Feldforschung von 2004 bis 2006. Im Mittelpunkt stehen die politischen Konfliktlinien zwischen dem regierenden Front-Bündnis (EPRDF), das die absolute Mehrheit errungen hat, und den Oppositionsparteien (CUDP, UEDF). Die angespannte Situation gipfelt schließlich in politische Unruhen mit Todesfällen, der Verfolgung von Oppositionellen und der Einschränkung der Pressefreiheit. In einem Fazit stellt der Autor fest, dass die EPRDF teilweise in panikartiger Reaktion in Muster der repressiven Regierungen der Vergangenheit gefallen ist, ohne ihren sozialpolitischen Reformanspruch ganz aufzugeben. Die schrittweise Abgabe von Macht durch die Regierungspartei - notwendig für eine echte Demokratisierung und Einbindung der verschiedensten disparaten Gruppen Äthiopiens - an gewählte und rechtsstaatlich kontrollierte Institutionen scheint jedoch momentan ausgeschlossen. (ICG2)

This report on the first democratic parliamentary elections in Ethiopia in 2005 briefly outlines the campaign, the election and election monitor observations, and the resulting unrest and follow-up elections. The election campaign began approximately nine months before the election and was primarily a race between the ruling Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) party, the newly formed opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), and the Union of Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF). Federalism, change, and realization of promised freedom and economic development were major themes of the campaign. Though the EPRDF declared victory, it became clear that the CUD had won a substantial number of seats in the majority of cities and in the federal parliament. The independent election observers observed electoral manipulation on both sides, though facts were difficult to substantiate, ultimately resulting in a new election in 135 districts, generating unrest, student protests, a taxi strike, and a crackdown by the administration. The most recent elections gave the EPRDF 303 seats, the CUD 123 seats, the UEDF 56 seats, with the remainder distributed between smaller parties. Despite the difficulties, the observable strengthening of legal and democratic institutions provides grounds for cautious optimism.