| The absence of a more equitable distribution of socio-economic resources in Ethiopia has long been recognized since the early days of the government of Emperor Haile-Selassie (1931--1974). More often than not, many scholars and policy-makers agree that the development policies of Emperor Haile-Selassie and President Mengistu (1974--1991) were designed in favor of the alleged "ruling ethnic group"---the Amhara. Based on narrow theoretical lenses and unwarranted assumptions, the government of Prime Meles (1991--present) instituted a constitution, redrew administrative boundaries, and encouraged the creation of political parties along "ethnic lines" as some of the measures to rectify historical distortions.;Using a systems theoretical approach and historical, analytical, and descriptive research methodologies, the study examines the development policies of the three governments and the distribution of socio-economic resources and political power from 1955 to 2000. It also analyzes how some of the elements of the socio-cultural, economic, and political systems interacted to maintain the status quo throughout the Haile-Selassie era and bring about institutional changes in 1974 and 1991. Finally, this study analyzes the results of parliamentary elections during the government of Haile-Selassie and Meles Zenawi.;Analyses of the statistical data from the early 1960 to the late 1990 strongly suggest that health and education services and manufacturing industries have continued to gravitate towards Addis Ababa, which is as ethnically heterogeneous as other provinces in Ethiopia. Additionally, examinations of biographic data on few political leaders of the previous governments indicate that competence as well as loyalty during the aristocratic rule of Emperor Haile-Selassie and commitment to the advancement of socialist ideology of the military regime were major factors for political appointment.;Therefore, to the extent that the alleged "ruling ethnic group" dominated the decision-making apparatus, their political domination did not have a ripple effect on the welfare of the majority Amharas. They were as economically marginalized and politically repressed as other ethnic groups in Ethiopia. Furthermore, even though multiparty elections were conducted in 1995 and 2000, the political system of the present regime is designed to consolidate political power in the hands of a few elites who appear to be champions of minority and ethnic rights. |
