A quest for modernity: reorienting the state-peasant relation, dilemmas and ramifications in northwestern Ethiopia, 1941–1974
The Horn of Africa witnessed a remarkable shift during the latter half of the 19th century. In the face of colonial powers’ mounting influence, Ethiopian rulers took decisive action to protect their country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Their response involved embracing Western-style mode...
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Cogent Arts & Humanities |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311983.2024.2411114 |
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| author | Dejenie Fikremaryam Tekalign Woldemariam |
| author_facet | Dejenie Fikremaryam Tekalign Woldemariam |
| author_sort | Dejenie Fikremaryam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Horn of Africa witnessed a remarkable shift during the latter half of the 19th century. In the face of colonial powers’ mounting influence, Ethiopian rulers took decisive action to protect their country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Their response involved embracing Western-style modernity, aiming to overhaul the traditional Gult-based mode of governance with a modern, centralized administrative system. However, the lack of credible works documenting the implementation of this project at the local level has left a significant gap in our understanding. Therefore, our paper aims to rectify this shortcoming by providing a detailed, unambiguous account of the strategies employed, challenges faced, and consequences underlying this transformative project. The study underscores the indispensable nature of reorienting the longstanding state-peasant relationship for the project’s success. It also illuminates how successive administrative and land tax reforms dismantled the intermediary role of the feudal class and consolidated state power. Overall, by showcasing the diverse responses of Africans to the European threat, our research offers invaluable insights into a pivotal chapter of African history. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-15815f4f27d848e69b208b5fe6149dfa |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2331-1983 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cogent Arts & Humanities |
| spelling | doaj-art-15815f4f27d848e69b208b5fe6149dfa2025-08-20T02:37:49ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Arts & Humanities2331-19832024-12-0111110.1080/23311983.2024.2411114A quest for modernity: reorienting the state-peasant relation, dilemmas and ramifications in northwestern Ethiopia, 1941–1974Dejenie Fikremaryam0Tekalign Woldemariam1Department of History, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, EthiopiaDepartment of History, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaThe Horn of Africa witnessed a remarkable shift during the latter half of the 19th century. In the face of colonial powers’ mounting influence, Ethiopian rulers took decisive action to protect their country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Their response involved embracing Western-style modernity, aiming to overhaul the traditional Gult-based mode of governance with a modern, centralized administrative system. However, the lack of credible works documenting the implementation of this project at the local level has left a significant gap in our understanding. Therefore, our paper aims to rectify this shortcoming by providing a detailed, unambiguous account of the strategies employed, challenges faced, and consequences underlying this transformative project. The study underscores the indispensable nature of reorienting the longstanding state-peasant relationship for the project’s success. It also illuminates how successive administrative and land tax reforms dismantled the intermediary role of the feudal class and consolidated state power. Overall, by showcasing the diverse responses of Africans to the European threat, our research offers invaluable insights into a pivotal chapter of African history.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311983.2024.2411114Administrative reformland tax reformpeasantryAfricasouthern Gondarmodernity |
| spellingShingle | Dejenie Fikremaryam Tekalign Woldemariam A quest for modernity: reorienting the state-peasant relation, dilemmas and ramifications in northwestern Ethiopia, 1941–1974 Cogent Arts & Humanities Administrative reform land tax reform peasantry Africa southern Gondar modernity |
| title | A quest for modernity: reorienting the state-peasant relation, dilemmas and ramifications in northwestern Ethiopia, 1941–1974 |
| title_full | A quest for modernity: reorienting the state-peasant relation, dilemmas and ramifications in northwestern Ethiopia, 1941–1974 |
| title_fullStr | A quest for modernity: reorienting the state-peasant relation, dilemmas and ramifications in northwestern Ethiopia, 1941–1974 |
| title_full_unstemmed | A quest for modernity: reorienting the state-peasant relation, dilemmas and ramifications in northwestern Ethiopia, 1941–1974 |
| title_short | A quest for modernity: reorienting the state-peasant relation, dilemmas and ramifications in northwestern Ethiopia, 1941–1974 |
| title_sort | quest for modernity reorienting the state peasant relation dilemmas and ramifications in northwestern ethiopia 1941 1974 |
| topic | Administrative reform land tax reform peasantry Africa southern Gondar modernity |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311983.2024.2411114 |
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