Memory Politics and Building Multinational States in Africa

This book tackles the fundamental question of how a society with competing collective memories and visions can build a common nation while trying to reconcile the past and forge a common future. Delving into the complex interplay between collective memory, identity, nation-building, and constitution making within the Ethiopian context, it offers a detailed case of how law, memory, and power interact in post-conflict, multi-ethnic societies.

Using the 1995 Ethiopian Constitution as a case study, the book investigates how competing collective memories and identity conflicts have shaped Ethiopia’s national identity, governance, and broader efforts toward nation-building in a multinational state. Drawing on in-depth interviews, document analysis, and theoretical insights, it explores how historical grievances, identity politics, and contested memories were embedded in constitutional debates over federalism, language, the flag, and the right to self-determination. The analysis highlights the ways in which these collective memories influence political dynamics, contribute to ongoing internal conflicts, and shape national narratives. Offering a deeper understanding of how memory politics affects governance and stability, this work addresses the broader implications for scholars and policymakers interested in the intersections of memory, identity, and constitutional processes in diverse societies.

By centering Ethiopia, and through a synthesis of theoretical frameworks and empirical research, this book provides crucial insights into the challenges and possibilities of nation-building across the Global South, making it essential reading for researchers and advanced students interested in the complexities of governing multinational states, African politics and law, and those with interests in memory studies, sociology, social psychology more broadly.

Author Biography

Ashagrie G. Abdi is an accomplished international human rights lawyer and strategic advisor. He holds a PhD in Conflict Analysis from George Mason University and an LL.M. in International Human Rights Law from Northwestern University. For over a decade, he has conducted high-level research and authored indices on governance, conflict, and societal transitions.