Transforming a Country? A Debate on Reimaginations of Development, Change and Crisis in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is undoubtedly making enormous development progress, particularly in terms of infrastructure, education and improved livelihoods. Yet there is growing disagreement on what constitutes good or appropriate development for Ethiopia. There is firm belief in the role of the developmental state built on economic growth, but there are doubts whether economic growth has led to more equity. Society is torn between maintaining traditional values and embracing the value changes that flow from increasing engagement in the globalised system and, while new, wealthier actors are appearing on the national scene, the poor still do not sufficiently benefit from development progress. As global shocks impact on Ethiopia to a greater or lesser extent, these interplay with an already vibrant and increasingly diverse struggle to imagine what development means for Ethiopia.