Testing Dagmawi’s ‘Wisdom’

Kelemu Smeneh April 23, 2008

These days, Dagmawi has insulated himself from people who could give him their feedback on his writings. Thus, I seek other open mediums to communicate my concern and critical feedback in the spirit of advancing the aspirations of our country and people. I am sure that Dagmawi knows that a person’s knowledge horizon widens when he/she is open-minded and willing to open him/herself to listening to different views and approaches.

I know of people who have made up their mind and forced themselves not to be persuaded by reason. These are usually what one calls ‘political junkies’ who are addicted to hearing or creating a dark picture of events. I can only hope that Dagmawi is not one of them.

I have admired people like Dagmawi in their untiring effort to fight for Ethiopia’s interest in her difficult war times with Eritrea. I was proud to see very dedicated men and women who tirelessly advocated for Ethiopia’s rightful defence against aggression. I was indeed proud of them. One of the most active and resourceful person during this time was Dagmawi. He will be remembered, credited and appreciated for what he did during those crucial moments.

While I appreciate the political differences that Dagmawi has with the current government of EPRDF, as of late the manner he expresses his differences, the misrepresentation of facts on some of his writings and the generalized statements and conclusions that he makes from incomplete observations has become of concern to me and many others who see the developments of the internal political manifestations of Ethiopia from afar – as free and non-partisan manner as possible.

I will briefly comment on his current outline, “What is the source of TPLF Wisdom?” that he posted on his website recently. The summary statements and outlines seem to suggest these are postulates of his upcoming work and/or he is suggesting that someone else validates his conclusions using the tools that he listed in his note. None of which, of course, have local content in terms of traditional local governance and wisdom.

“Where does the governance theory and knowledge of the TPLF come from?” asks Dagmawi. For him to be leaders, they should be trained social scientists or members of previous governments. One would then ask, “Would they have been better leaders if they were part of the feudal system or the ruthless government of this century in Ethiopia – the Derg”? Not that there are no individuals who served Haileselassie or Derg in this cureent government, but I hope this mildly satirical question helps Dagmawi to be careful of generalized statements. I say this without any prejudice to his statements that TPLF leaders do not have the ability to lead the country. My difference is on the facts. Assuming Dagmawi’s postulate that social scientists must lead the country is correct; he does not prove that such is not the case with EPRDF. The error he makes leads him to un-informed/ill-informed conclusions: EPRDF leaders are ‘largely ignorant of major advances in social theory/knowledge.’

My observation is that because Dagmawi has his mind fixed on the poorly dressed army of the EPRDF when they entered Addis in 1991, he arrives at a wrong conclusion of saying that they are not trained in modern education that he thinks is important to lead the country. My observation and the facts tell a different story. TPLF/EPRDF leaders made their priority that their cadres get modern education and made a very significant progress in educating themselves to the highest level. In fact they are more educated than those of us who have walked in the streets of the Western capitals a million times.

The misstatement of facts by Dagmawi needs to be corrected. Otherwise serious scholars and observers will not be impressed by the high-sounding statements of Dagmawi. I am discouraged that Dagmawi has become an intellectual conduit to the arrogant statements of former feudal lords, bureaucrats and Derg agents who use to tell us that these kids from the bushes are incapable of leading this country which they have ‘carefully’ and ‘tactically’ kept its unity intact for thousands of years. That is wrong.

As neutral observers see it, the current government is keen in educational advance – that is unless Dagmawi argues that the more than a dozen universities currently opened are not worthy of institutions. I suggest that he sees the development of the country, the intellectual maturity and the mental agility of the EPRDF leaders to learn new things. I might also add that one has to be open-minded to see these changes and absorb them

Dagmawi suggests that “It is time for these younger generations to take over the country and use this new knowledge to lift the country up out of poverty.” I agree. That is why we hope that the leaders of tomorrow that are being trained in the now mushrooming universities will make our wish come true.

The near hate attitude of Dagmawi, however, makes him mix his good wishes with irrelevant statements such as, “The TPLF cannot be reformed. Its leaders are fossilized; lost in old, unproductive ways of thinking. Its theories, its knowledge, its style, --- almost everything about the TPLF is obsolete.”

Nothing can be further from the truth. In fact one of the strong characteristic of TPLF/RPRDF is their willingness to change as long as that change facilitates their objectives. They did not hesitate to convert themselves from die-hard Marxists to full-fledged capitalists that preach free market economy. If Dagmawi thinks otherwise because the EPRDF still believes in public landownership, then I suggest that he reads current economic trends and thinking and not be selective in referring his leaders to works that promote only his views. Capitalism is defined within a context. One should not arrive at generalized conclusions without putting things into context.

On the question of Marxism/ communism, in which Dagmawi seems to be well-versed, he repeatedly tries to paint the EPRDF as a hard-core Marxists. One could easily conclude that Dagmawi was part of the old school of Marxism in which the Ethiopian students were immersed. Winston Churchill is credited to have said something that resembles the following: for the young man not to be a socialist/communist in his early years is strange but to continue to be Marxist in the mature years implies stupidity. Now, I know that Dagmawi and others who were in that camp, I am sure, have changed their viewpoints on political ideologies. One should/would not characterize them as communists based on old information. I suggest that Dagmawi gives a benefit of the doubt to the leaders of EPRDF too.

To suggest that one should not read Hegel’s work or “The 18th Brumaire of Louis Napoleon” is anti intellectual and anti-knowledge stance. The fact is these leaders at the ruling party – that includes Meles and Alemseged (the ex-eprdf) read more recent books be it on politics or economics than most of their critics.

Some concluding remarks are appropriate here. Political differences are inevitable. Different positions are held to satisfy different constituents. In the Ethiopian social arena politics must find ways to satisfy or answer the wishes and aspirations of all constituents. No one must be left behind.

But any serious person that wants to contribute to the development of Ethiopia must consider accepting one fundamental truth. Ethiopia is a multi-nation state. These nations/nationalities have an interest in preserving themselves: economically, administratively/politically, culturally and linguistically. The federal system that is now in place best answers these aspirations. Unless one accepts these aspirations, endorses them and provides a better alternative (excels the current arrangement to even better these aspirations) it is impossible to imagine how helpful role one can play in the Ethiopian politics.

Democratization, good governance and unity can be achieved if we all agree on the above fundamental point of accepting the rights of nationalities or ethnic groups. There is no any other way to go around it. Once we settle this issue, we can talk of politics of the right, the left and the centre. Ethnic federalism was born out of necessity in our country. However scary it may look for those of us who are used to the old status quo this is indeed a difficult and unknown territory we have to recognize and move forward. We need to be bold and open-minded and give this arrangement a chance. If the Ethiopian people reject it and choose a different arrangement through a democratic process in line with the rules set under the new constitution, there is no force in hell or heaven that can stop that change.

It is my hope that Dagmawi and others use this concluding remark as a benchmark and proceed forward to bring a change in our society. Quoting foreign sources as sources of knowledge and inspiration is not enough. Foreign sources are secondary. Knowing the wisdom of our ancestors, their culture and knowledge is the starting point.