JGAS

Article Details

Vol. 4 No. 2 (2024): July

Genocide and Political Destruction in Tigray: The Imperative for Systemic Transformation

https://doi.org/10.35912/jgas.v4i2.2323
30 Jul 2024

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to severe governance and public service challenges in the Tigray region of Ethiopia following genocide and political destruction, aiming to analyze the impact of the conflict on governance structures and advocate for transformative frameworks.

Research Methodology: A qualitative survey involving 2,280 respondents were conducted using systematic random sampling and snowballing, with data collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations, analyzed using ATLAS.ti version 9.

Results: The findings reveal significant gaps between public expectations and government performance, highlighting governance collapse, political instability, declining public services, and the long-term institutional damage that perpetuates social conflict and societal deterioration.

Conclusions: Tigray is experiencing a deep governance and post-conflict crisis marked by weak institutions, political interference, lack of accountability, socio-economic inequality, and limited public trust, highlighting the urgent need for inclusive governance reforms, equitable development, and sustainable peacebuilding efforts.

Limitations: This study emphasizes the importance of governance and political transformation that strengthens accountability, transparency, and citizen participation to support Tigray’s recovery, sustainable development, and social cohesion.

Contributions: This study contributes to the theoretical and empirical understanding of the impact of genocide on governance and politics, particularly in relation to post-genocide societal and institutional transformation.

Novelty: The novelty of this study lies in its focus on the governance challenges faced by the Interim Regional Administration in post-genocidal Tigray, particularly its capacity to implement inclusive governance reforms amid political fragmentation and institutional crises.

Keywords

Civil Society Engagement Governance Transformation Post-Genocide Recovery Tigray Genocide

How to Cite

Alemu, M. G. (2024). Genocide and Political Destruction in Tigray: The Imperative for Systemic Transformation. Journal of Governance and Accountability Studies, 4(2), 147–164. https://doi.org/10.35912/jgas.v4i2.2323

References

  1. Ajala, O. T. (2023). Coping and social support strategies of Nigerian military widows in the war against Boko Haram. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University.
  2. Al-Samurai, A. A. R. M., & Al-Qaraghuli, A. S. R. (2021). Adopting sustainable development in reconstruction Post War City of Mosul Architecture-Case Study. Paper presented at the IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. doi:https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/754/1/012001
  3. Ansell, C., & Gash, A. (2008). Collaborative governance in theory and practice. Journal of public administration research and theory, 18(4), 543-571. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/mum032
  4. Atabay, Z. E., Macedonio, A., Teba, T., & Unal, Z. (2024). Destruction, heritage and memory: Post-conflict memorialisation for recovery and reconciliation. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development, 14(4), 477-496. doi:https://doi.org/10.1108/JCHMSD-06-2021-0103
  5. Berry, M. E., & Lake, M. (2021). Women's rights after war: On gender interventions and enduring hierarchies. Annual Review of Law and Social Science, 17(1), 459-481. doi:https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-lawsocsci-113020-085456
  6. Blair, R. A. (2020). Peacekeeping, policing, and the rule of law after civil war: Cambridge University Press.
  7. Central Zone FGD Discussants. (2024). Post-Genocide Tigray Governance Dynamics In Amanuel (Ed.).
  8. Central Zone FGD Respondents. (2024). Post-genocide Tigray governance dynamics. In A. T (Ed.).
  9. Eastern Zone-Interview Respondents. (2024). Post-genocide Tigray governance dynamics in F. e. al (Ed.).
  10. Emmanuel, S., & Saroor, S. (2022). Experiences of gendered norms and mobilizing for rights of women living with disabilities in the post-war context in Sri Lanka. Frontiers in Sociology, 7, 715240. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2022.715240
  11. FGD Discussants. (2024). The state of governance in post-genocidal war Tigray in Dawit (Ed.).
  12. Fiseha, A. (2020). Local level decentralization in Ethiopia: Case study of Tigray regional state. Law and Development Review, 13(1), 95-126. doi:https://doi.org/10.1515/ldr-2019-0006
  13. Galtung, J. (2001). After violence, reconstruction, reconciliation, and resolution. Reconciliation, justice and coexistence: Theory and practice, 3-23. doi:https://doi.org/10.5040/9798216415206.ch-1
  14. García-Godos, J. (2019). Building trust through accountability: Transitional justice in the search for peace Research Handbook on International Law and Peace (pp. 401-423): Edward Elgar Publishing. doi:https://doi.org/10.4337/9781788117470.00030
  15. Gavri?, S. (2024). Understanding substantive representation of women in consociational post-conflict political systems. Nationalism and Ethnic Politics, 30(2), 173-191. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/13537113.2023.2266155
  16. Gidey, M., Gerges, T., & Leake, A. (2016). The state of governance, security and society in post-war Tigray. Mekelle: NP: TIPS Archive.
  17. GTG-IRA. (2024). Challenges of the IRA In M. Gidey (Ed.).
  18. Iaromenko, S., Czy?ewski, B., & Wo?niak-Jasi?ska, K. (2024). A socioeconomic framework for cultural heritage loss and rebuilding in post-war Ukraine: a case study learning from the Balkan experiences. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 30(9), 1026-1048. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2024.2363819
  19. Johnson, C. (2023). Political power sharing in post-conflict democracies: investigating effects on vertical and horizontal accountability. Democratization, 30(6), 1135-1159. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/13510347.2023.2214085
  20. Karakus, D. C. (2021). Power mediators and pure mediators: Exploring their impact on implementing internal peace agreements. Dissertation, Göttingen, Georg-August Universität, 2020. doi:https://doi.org/10.53846/goediss-8658
  21. Khan, I. (2024). From rehabilitation to reintegration Rehabilitation, deradicalization, and reintegration of militants: A case study from Swat Valley (pp. 101-129): Springer. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-9514-1_6
  22. Kizilhan, J. I., & Neumann, J. (2020). The significance of justice in the psychotherapeutic treatment of traumatized people after war and crises. Frontiers in psychiatry, 11, 541450. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00540
  23. Korniychuk, A. (2024). Building back better: The role of social security in Ukraine’s sustainable recovery. Ukraine Analytica, 10(01(33)), 36-44.
  24. Kurtovi?, L. (2015). ‘Who sows hunger, reaps rage’: On protest, indignation and redistributive justice in post-Dayton Bosnia-Herzegovina. Southeast European and Black Sea Studies, 15(4), 639-659. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/14683857.2015.1126095
  25. Linnér, B.-O. (2023). The return of Malthus: Environmentalism and post-war population–resource crises: The White Horse Press. doi:https://doi.org/10.3197/63811987103618.book
  26. Luna, K. C., & Whetstone, C. (2024). Women, gender roles and gender-based violence after war Research Handbook on the Sociology of Gender (pp. 345-358): Edward Elgar Publishing. doi:https://doi.org/10.4337/9781802206692.00038
  27. Machina, I. M., & Cheri, L. (2022). Promoting peace and reconciliation in Africa The Palgrave Handbook of Sustainable Peace and Security in Africa (pp. 489-503): Springer. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-82020-6_28
  28. McAuliffe, P. (2017). Transformative transitional justice and the malleability of post-conflict states: Edward Elgar Publishing. doi:https://doi.org/10.4337/9781783470044
  29. Mekelle-FGD Discussants. (2024). The state of current governance in post-war Tigray in A. Amanuel (Ed.).
  30. Mekelle Interview Respondents. (2024). Post-genocide Tigray governance dynamics. In Blen (Ed.).
  31. Mifsud, A. (2020). Exploring Community-and Society-Level Interventions for Healing Historical Trauma: A Grounded Theory Study. University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations.
  32. MK-TPLF. (2024). The nature of TPLF's internal crisis in M. Gidey (Ed.).
  33. Mylovanov, T., & Roland, G. (2022). Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction and governance reforms. Rebuilding Ukraine: Principles and policies, 39.
  34. Naworska, W. (2024). Enduring trauma at a distance: A literature review of intergenerational trauma and community-based coping strategies among Palestinian youth in occupied Palestinian territories and its implications for sustainable peace.
  35. North-Western-FGD Discussants. (2024). The state of governance in post-genocidal war Tigray in Solomon (Ed.).
  36. North Western Zone Interview Respondents. (2024). Post-genocide Tigray governance dynamics in Solomon (Ed.).
  37. Nyandwi, A. (2022). Community based reintegration of ex-Combatants with disabilities in Muyumbu village: Achievements and challenges. University of Rwanda.
  38. Richmond, O. P. (2014). The impact of socio-economic inequality on peacebuilding and statebuilding. Civil Wars, 16(4), 449-467. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/13698249.2014.985876
  39. SA-Leader. (2024). The status of civil service system: Past and present in Woldesilassie (Ed.).
  40. Selvaratnam, N. D., Keat, O. B., & Tham, J. (2023). Cohesion via diversity and inclusion: The role of Sri Lankan state universities in post-war reconciliation. Migr. Lett, 21(1), 711-731.
  41. Smith, C. Q. (2022). Local peace governance in post-war Timor-Leste: Reconceiving governance ambiguity as a formalised political unsettlement. Peacebuilding, 10(3), 278-296. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/21647259.2021.1955516
  42. South Eastern Zone-FGD Discussants. (2024). The current state of governance in Tigray in C. Gezae (Ed.).
  43. South Eastern Zone Interview Respondents. (2024). Post-genocide Tigray governance dynamics in C. Gezae (Ed.).
  44. South Zone Interview Respondents. (2024). Post-genocide Tigray governance dynamics in Tesfay (Ed.).
  45. TIPS. (2023). Tigray war damage assessment: Mekelle: NP: TIPS Archive.
  46. Toborek, M. K. (2020). Achieving sustainable development: An exploration of approaches to heritage conservation in post-conflict environments: Institute of Archaeology.
  47. TPLF-HR. (2023). The Establishment of IRA and emergent political Strife within TPLF In M. Gidey (Ed.).
  48. Webster, K., Chen, C., & Beardsley, K. (2019). Conflict, peace, and the evolution of women's empowerment. International Organization, 73(2), 255-289. doi:https://doi.org/10.1017/s0020818319000055
  49. Zaviršek, D., & Cox, J. (2024). Navigating minefields: Social work with people with disabilities in the context of war. Journal of Human Rights and Social Work, 9(3), 441-452. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s41134-024-00329-9
WhatsApp Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Email