Ethiopia : a country study

460 Pages·2013·34.42 MB·English

area handbook series
Ethiopia
a country study
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Ethiopia
a country study
Federal Research Division
Library of Congress
c. Edited by
Thomas P. Ofcansky
IBM and LaVerle Berry
Research Completed
July 1991
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On the cover: Largest of the standing obelisks at Aksum, capi-
tal of the ancient Aksumite state
Fourth Edition, First Printing, 1993.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ethiopia : a country study / Federal Research Division, Library of—
Congress edited by Thomas P. Ofcansky and LaVerle Berry.
;
4th ed.
—
p. cm. (Area handbook series, ISSN 1057-5294)
(DA pam 550-28)
;
"Supersedes the 1981 edition of Ethiopia: a country study,
—
edited by Harold D. Nelson and Irving Kaplan" T.p. verso.
"Research completedJuly 1991."
Includes bibliographical references (pp. 347-376) and index.
ISBN 0-8444-0739-9
1. Ethiopia. I. Ofcansky, Thomas P., 1947- . II. Berry,
LaVerle, 1942- . III. Library of Congress. Federal Research
Division. IV. Area handbook for Ethiopia. V. Series. VI. Series:
DA pam 550-28.
;
DT373.E83 1993 92-507
963—dc20 CIP
Headquarters, Department of the Army
DA Pam 550-28
ForsalebytheSuperintendentofDocuments, U.S. GovernmentPrintingOffice
Washington,D.C. 20402
Foreword
This volume is one in a continuing series ofbooks prepared by
the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress under
the Country Studies/Area Handbook Program sponsored by the
Department ofthe Army. The last page ofthis booklists the other
published studies.
Most books in the series deal with a particular foreign country,
describing and analyzing its political, economic, social, and national
security systems and institutions, and examiningthe interrelation-
ships of those systems and the ways they are shaped by cultural
factors. Each study is written by a multidisciplinary team ofsocial
scientists. The authors seek to provide a basic understanding of
the observed society, striving for a dynamic rather than a static
portrayal. Particular attention is devoted to the people who make
up the society, theirorigins, dominantbeliefs andvalues, theircom-
mon interests and the issues on which they are divided, the nature
and extent oftheirinvolvementwith nationalinstitutions, and their
attitudes toward each other and toward their social system and
political order.
The books represent the analysis ofthe authors and should not
be construed as an expression ofan official United States govern-
ment position, policy, or decision. The authors have sought to
adhere to accepted standards ofscholarly objectivity. Corrections,
additions, and suggestions for changes from readers will be wel-
comed for use in future editions.
Louis R. Mortimer
Chief
Federal Research Division
Library of Congress
Washington, D.C. 20540
111

Acknowledgments
The authors wish to acknowledge their use and adaptation of
information in the 1981 edition ofEthiopia: A Country Study, edited
by Harold D. Nelson and Irving Kaplan. The authors are also
grateful to numerous individuals in various government agencies
and private institutions who generously shared their time, exper-
tise, and knowledge about Ethiopia. These people include Paul B.
Henze, The Rand Corporation; Thomas L. Kane, Department
ofDefense; Thomas Collelo, Department ofDefense; Carol Boger,
Department ofDefense; Major Dale R. Endreson, United States
Army; and Ralph K. Benesch, who oversees the Country Studies/
Area Handbook Program for the Department ofthe Army. None
ofthese individuals is in any way responsible for the work of the
authors, however.
The authors also wish to thank those who contributed directly
to the preparation of the manuscript. These include Sandra W.
Meditz, who reviewed all textual and graphicmaterials and served
as liaison with the sponsoring agency; Marilyn Majeska, who
managed the editing; Vincent Ercolano, who edited the chapters;
Joshua Sinai, who helped prepare the manuscript for prepublica-
tion review; and Barbara Edgerton,Janie L. Gilchrist, and Izella
Watson, who did theword processing. AndreaT. Merrill performed
the final prepublication editorial review and managed production.
Joan C. Cook compiled the index. MalindaB. Neale ofthe Library
ofCongress Printing and Processing Section performed the photo-
typesetting, under the supervision of Peggy Pixley.
David P. Cabitto provided invaluable graphics support. Harriett
R. Blood and Greenhorne and O'Mara prepared the maps, which
were drafted by Tim Merrill and reviewed by David P. Cabitto.
The charts were prepared by David P. Cabitto and Greenhorne
and O'Mara. Wayne Home deserves special thanks for designing
the illustration for the book's cover. Deborah A.V. Clement de-
signed the illustrations for the chapter title pages.
Finally, the authorsacknowledge the generosity ofthe individuals
and public and private agencies who allowed their photographs to
be used in this study. They are indebted especially to those who
contributed work not previously published.
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