By T, Staffer of De Birhan Media
16-11-201
A recent paper written by Dr. Berhanu Nega and Dr. Carl Milofsky
in March 2011 and published in Oxford University Press and Community
Development Journal concluded that government repression threatens opportunities
for economic development that could be generated by local-level NGOs.
The paper uses two Ethiopian NGOs namely Ilu Aga community
organization and Adaba–Dodola Community-based Eco-tourism Development from the Oromia
region in south central Ethiopia as case examples of local NGOs to show the
importance of local-level democracy for economic development.
The paper entitled “Ethiopia’s anti-NGO law and its consequences
for economic development” begins by introducing the the social and cultural
infrastructure in Ethiopia and goes to outline the political history of Ethiopia,
particularly the last twenty years and finally reviews the 2009 anti-NGO law
and concludes.
According to the Paper, the case studies have showed that the
NGOs have enabled the local community, reduced dependence on advanced technology,
and helped to improve the physical environment and helped develop dialogue and
trust among each other.
The case examples suggest that the civil society sector in Ethiopia has the potential to be a powerful engine for economic development, whose success depends on a matrix of intermediate associations, networks, and relationships facilitating project development.
Deconstructing the modernisation theory that says economic development
is a precondition to democracy, the writers attest,
In Ethiopia – and we do not believe this conclusion only applies to this setting – economic development follows democracy rather than the other way around. That said the insecurity of government leaders when CSOs prosper is the major threat to local social entrepreneurship. Not only does it make participation and organization dangerous for democratic activists at all levels.
The paper concludes that repressive governmental intervention in
Ethiopia and elsewhere,
cuts the thread of historical development that creates rich networks, social capital, and momentum borne of the success of previous projects.
In a nut shell, the paper asserted that the government intervention and repression on NGOs as in the case of Ethiopia's 2009 NGO Law hampers their role in economic development as was also found out precedence of democracy to economic development.
Both Berhanu and Carl are lecturers in Bucknell University, USA.
Dr. Berhanu Nega is the Chairman of Ethiopia’s strongest opposition Movement, Ginbot 7.
You can purchase the whole Paper HERE.
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