The Dynamics of Urbanization in Ethiopia - Essay Example

Ethiopia of the Name of the Concerned Professor June 27, 2009 Ethiopia COUNTRY PROFILE Ethiopia constitutes a part of the Horn of Africa and its neighboring countries include Eritrea, Djibouti, Sudan, Somalia and Kenya (Cities of the World, 2002). Ethiopia roughly has an area of 1,127,127 square kilometers. Strikingly, though 85 percent of the Ethiopians rely on animal husbandry and agriculture for sustenance, still merely 12 percent of the land area of Ethiopia is arable (Cities of the World, 2002). The climate in the Ethiopian highlands happens to be cool, while the lowlands tend to be hot (Cities of the World, 2002). Ethiopia has a population of 61 million, which is growing at an annual rate of 2 percent (Cities of the World, 2002). Ethiopia has one of the lowest per capita incomes in the world that stands at $ 120 a year (Cities of the World, 2002). The major ethnic groups inhabiting Ethiopia are Oromo (40 percent), Amhara (20 percent), Tigrayan (12 percent) and Sidama (9 percent) (Cities of the World, 2002). Amharic happens to be the Official language of Ethiopia. The other languages spoken in Ethiopia include English, Italian, Tigriyna, French, Oromiffa, Arabic, Afara and Somali (Cities of the World, 2002). Nearly 45 percent of the Ethiopians happen to be adherents of Ethiopian Orthodox Church while an approximately the same number are affiliated to Islam. Since the fall of the Marxist regime in 1991, Ethiopia has decentralized its economic planning and has opted for open market policies (Cities of the World, 2002). Agriculture stands to be the most promising sector in Ethiopia that contributes more then 50 percent of its GDP and roughly 80 percent of all the Ethiopian exports (Cities of the World, 2002). Ethiopia has one of the most underdeveloped infrastructures in Africa. AGRARIAN REFORMS AND THE POLITICS OF RURAL CHANGE The economic problems in rural Ethiopia happened to be rampant and widespread. Thus, the unleashing of agrarian reforms in Ethiopia was essential to give boost to its ailing economy. The unique climate and topography of Ethiopia defined by dry deserts and drought and famine were primarily responsible for the pathetically low agricultural productivity in Ethiopia. The poor agricultural infrastructure and the recurrent famines in Ethiopia gave way to a large-scale poverty in the rural communities. The scarce rainfall depleted the fertility of the agricultural land and thus appropriate measures needed to be taken to improve soil fertility and the gross agricultural productivity. The Pattern of land occupancy in Ethiopia has been very intricate and complex. For example, in Welo province only there existed more then 111 types of land tenure systems (Economy Watch, 2009). Therefore, these utterly complex and confusing land tenure systems combined with very scarce knowledge and information about the land conditions made it difficult to estimate and qualify the land ownership throughout Ethiopia (Economy Watch, 2009). Thus, a pragmatic approach towards introducing land reforms in Ethiopia made it a must to grasp the nature of differences existing in the varied patterns of land ownership in the North and the South (Economy Watch, 2009). The prevalent patterns of land ownership in Ethiopia made it next to impossible the achievement of economic objectives like an increase in the agricultural productivity and an uplifting of the economic conditions of the Ethiopian peasants. Thus, the state and the intelligentsia in Ethiopia soon came to realize the inevitability of agrarian reforms to rescue Ethiopia from the economic morass in which it was caught. Sometime in the 60s, large sections of the student community started campaigning for the introduction of the land reforms in Ethiopia (Economy Watch, 2009). In fact, the early leadership for the initiation of the agrarian reforms ensued from these university students (Economy Watch 2009). The agrarian reforms unfurled in 1974 led to the nationalization of all the agricultural land in the rural sector and all the commercial farmland in Ethiopia came under the control of the state (Economy Watch, 2009). These land reforms received a mixed response in the North and the South. The Southern tenant peasants found these reforms very favorable as earlier they had to pay exorbitant rents to the landlords (Economy Watch, 2009). Hence, these agrarian reforms negated any possibility of exploitation of the peasantry by the landowners. On the contrary, such agrarian reforms were not taken well in the Northern territories dominated by communal landowners (Economy Watch, 2009). Hence, these reforms gave way to a peculiar political situation in the country. RAPID URBANIZATION AND THE POLITICS OF THE URBAN POOR The dynamics of urbanization in Ethiopia has been exhibiting a marked shift since 1966. Irrespective of its very thin scale of urbanization, which stands to be a meager 10.6 percent, Ethiopia exhibited a marked growth in its urban population, which augmented at the rate of 4.8 percent per annum in the period 1966-1984 (East African Economic Review, 1986). The regional distribution of urbanization in Ethiopia is very lopsided and uneven. Hence, a major proportion of the national urban population is confined to very few urban areas (East African Economic Review, 1986). Therefore, there is no denying the fact that the urban infrastructure in Ethiopia is highly stressed and overcrowded and thereby costly. This has given way to a marginalized group in urban areas, which is defined by poverty and compromised living conditions. This solid chunk of urban poor has emerged to be a major vote bank in Ethiopia, giving way to novel political affiliations and possibilities (Jones & Nelson, 1999). REVOLUTIONARY CHANGE In the recent years, the polity and economy of Ethiopia has exhibited revolutionary changes. With the first multiparty elections held in 1994, the essential bulwarks of national life that is democracy, independent judiciary and free press have received a shot in the arm (African Business, 2008). The adoption of the federal system of government has not only ushered in peace and unity in Ethiopia, but has ensured the participation of the divergent sections of the society in the national affairs (African Business, 2008). The adoption of free market economy by Ethiopia in 1991 has led to a vibrant economic transformation and enhanced private sector participation. This thrust towards free market setup has so far led to the privatization of more then 250 public sector enterprises (African Business, 2008). It is not a surprise that Ethiopia has been exhibiting an exceptional growth rate of 11.9 percent since the last five years (African Business, 2008). Ethiopia is not only the most potent economy in the sub-Saharan Africa, but expects to become a middle-income country within the next 20 years (African Business, 2008). The economy is shifting towards a broad based development with a booming agriculture sector and an expanding industrial base. Both the domestic and foreign investment in Ethiopia is on the rise. The new initiated projects are expected to create employment opportunities for the large sections of the society. In the year 2007 alone, the country's exports exhibited an augmentation of 18.5 percent (African Business, 2008). THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE THIRD WORLD DEVELOPMENT The third world nations like Ethiopia in their pursuit for sustainability have to adjust to many conflicting factors and influences. One of the biggest threat to the development of African economies is the rampant corruption and widespread tribal conflicts. Thus, Ethiopia has not only to preserve its fragile national unity, but also to ensure that the fruits of privatization and free market economy percolate down to the poorest of the poor (Ottaway, 1990). At the same time, the third world nations have to look to it that their newfound commitment to development and industrialization stand to be in consonance with the modern environmental principles. This calls for a discernable predilection towards the technologies and policies, which though being costly in the short run, happen to be environment friendly. Ethiopia had been a well-developed and culturally rich civilization and there does not exist any doubt that going by its current policies, it will eventually emerge to be an African giant in the times to come. References "Agrarian Reforms in Ethiopia". EconomyWatch. Retrieved June 27, 2009, From http://www.economywatch.com/agrarian/world/ethiopia.html "At the tereshold of a renaissance: Ethiopia celebrates its third millennium (ETHIOPIA)." African Business. IC Publications Ltd. 2008. Retrieved June 27, 2009, from HighBeam Research: http://www.highbeam.com/ Doc/1G1-180220403.html "Ethiopia". Cities of the World. The Gale Group Inc. 2002. Retrieved June 27, 2009, from HighBeam Research: http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G2- 3410700026.html Jones, Sue & Nelson, Nici. Urban Poverty in Africa: From Understanding to Alleviation. London: Intermediate Technology Publications, 1999. Ottaway, Marina. The Political Economy of Ethiopia. New York: Praeger Publishers, 1990 "The Growth of Urbanization in Ethiopia, 1966-1984". East African Economic Review. 1986; 2(2): 157-67.8 Read More