Title Of the Book: THE BUREAUCRATIC EMPIRE: SERVING EMPERORHAILE SELASSIE
Author: Dr. Seyoum Haregot
Reviewed by: Haile Bokure
Inthis semi-autobiographical book, the author describes in depth how thebureaucratic machinery composed of the Royal Court, the Old Guard chiefly thenobility, and the Ministerial Council appointed by His Majesty were in a fierceconflict in an attempt to control the State Power. According to his Majesty’s modernizationpolicy, those who were in charge to serve with a rank of Minister were fromhumble background who received higher education in the Industrial West. According to Donald Levine, they were the returneesfrom abroad after long years of studies (circa 1950.) Unfortunately, they were frustrated not only to modernize the Old Establishment, but also handicapped in joining to therank of aristocratic nobility either by marriage or honorific titles associatedwith their families lineages. Thus theirachieved status by way of higher education rendered them nothing in a societythat ones worshipped the ascribed status with its distinguished mark of noblesseoblige.
Fromthe vantage point of the author, the Ministerial Council or Prime Minister’s Cabinetwas unable to execute its major operations as long as the largesse and approvalof His Majesty who was at the helm of power was mandatory in accordance withthe cannons of Kibre Negest (Glory of Kings). On the other hand, the aristocratic classwhich was threatened its commanding post in a society by the immerging educated elite was resistance to any policies and laws affecting its hold.Obviously, the modernizing elites were sandwiched between the Royal andAristocratic powers in oligarchic society that lacked the circulation of eliteswhich is common in democratic institutions. According to the author, such scenario could have been the major causethat led the silent revolution of the 1972.
The rest is history.
Theauthor seems to overlook the role of Eritrean Liberation Movements andcoup d' eta of the 1960 under General Mengistu Neway in dismantling the historic Royal Rule. Not to mention the unforgettable famine inTigray and part of Wello that claimed the lives of countless people. According to Ato Paulos Gnongo, the famousjournalist there was a protocol restricting any news in the media relating to EritreanWar, famine and draught.
Thisis a very informative book that Donald Levine, Peter Schwab, and ChristopherClapham, the preeminent Ethiopiansts who missed some inside information intheir attempt to study the Ethiopian culture and power hierarchy. On personal note,the author needs to be appreciated for not changing his position honestly as acivil servant as long as his background is concerned. As for me, it is a matter of his destiny in this unpredictableworld we live in. I suggest everyone toread this remarkable book, for it has some implications in our struggle tobuild a nascent Eritrea after three decades of war.
Thebook can be obtained from the Red Sea Press.
Haile Bokure
Received on Mon Jun 03 2013 - 13:17:22 EDT