Webinar: The Future of the Ethiopian Social Contract

The contemporary Ethiopian state is, without question, facing enormous challenges, including the militarization of state and non-state actors, high population density accompanied by youth unemployment, food insecurity, inequality and discrimination among ethnic groups, ethnic and political polarization and widespread human rights abuses. At the core of the issues faced by Ethiopia lies the state-building process, and Ethiopians remain divided in their views about what kind of constitutional structure has the greatest potential to unify the country without compromising diversity.

A new publication stemming from a convening of more than ​30 leading Ethiopian scholars in Addis Ababa explores these issues and illuminates possible paths forward for the Ethiopian state. Northwestern University’s Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs and Pritzker School of Law, the Addis Ababa University College of Law and Governance Studies and the Harvard Law School’s Human Rights Program hosted this webinar on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 to convene a virtual discussion with some of the publication's contributors and others leading efforts to promote dialogue and peace in Ethiopia.