The Concept of Democratic nationalism

                                                                                                                                            Desta Hailu

The 11^th Nation, Nationalities and Peoples’ Day was celebrated on November 29, 2016 at Harar national state capital city Harari city under the theme ‘Our constitution for our democratic unity an renaissance’.

This date is the day our people toppled the brutal regime Derg and ratified the FDRE constitution; a symbol and representation of their covenant. It was also the day they realized the document they wrote to build a single political and economic community with their own consent 22 years ago – on November 29, 1995. So, it is appropriate to talk few things about the constitution, as it is opportune to talk about what the date represents.

As the FDRE constitution is characteristically progressive, it creates democratic unity. As it is based on the consent that our country’s nation, nationalities and people that it was ratified 22 years ago, it was clear that the document bestows democratic unity to the people from the beginning. And through this process, the constitution has strengthened a unity that is based on consent of every nation, nationalities and people. And as it can be recalled, democratic nationalism thinking has played the lion-share in this.

As it is known, democratic nationalism is a must in a country like ours where many nation, nationalities and people exist. As long as democratic nationalism is strengthened, it is obvious there will be democratic unity. It can’t be said that the effort to strengthen democratic nationalism for the past quarter century did not have any problem.

As I have mentioned it earlier, it is obvious that it will be difficult to easily ingrain the thinking when taking into account the complicated ethnic oppression that existed during previous regimes. However, it should be understood that democratic nationalism is blossoming Ethiopianism by strengthening our country’s unity.

Of course Ethiopian identity cannot be forced, but consented. And every nation and nationalities' right to speak through own language was protected for the past 25 years based on this principle. The democratic nationalism that is implemented in the Ethiopian reality was able to bear fruit. This is because; the principle is about living peacefully with other nation and nationalities and adhering to a path that would enable to solve problems with dialogue.

So, currently, democratic nationalism is strengthening. Democratic nationalism is valuable tool in the fight against chauvinist and parochial forces. As democratic nationalism respects self identity and similarly accepts other identities, it ensures cooperation and mutual development.

Democratic nationalism is a dependable tool that enables to solve good governance and development questions in a lasting manner. Thus, there can’t be any conflict in areas and regions the theory has gained supremacy. This is because democratic nationalism ensures mutual benefit/development. Thus, in order to maintain this, I think we should fight together parochial and chauvinist attitude that are seen in various areas sometimes.

Democratic nationalism is able to create bond between various nation and nationalities. Thus, it is a value that has elevated the country to a higher plane. Although there are still challenges of chauvinism and parochialism, I think they will inevitably be defeated by democratic nationalism.

Of course there are some chauvinistic rhetoric spewed in some areas. And there is part of the society that sees this thinking as a cave. The constitution allows them to voice their opinion freely. However, I don’t think EPRDF or the government have some agenda of prohibiting people with different thinking to them from voicing their opinions.

Democratic nationalism is an important issue to ensure mutual benefit for the public and pro-people attitude. Anyone that is concerned for any set of peoples should be concerned for other people as well. This is because; when one respects other people, he will in turn respect his own. Of course in our past one set of nation might have hurt people outside of its own. But this is done by the ruling elites, and not by the people or concern the people.

As it is known, forces of chauvinism and parochialism try to condemn some people by mentioning unfair/uneven historical interaction of the past. This doesn’t go with the principle of democratic nationalism in any way.

I don’t think it is appropriate to try to gain personal expedience by exacerbating such kind of misdirected and wrongful thinking. And if there is any entity that wants to do that, it won’t be successful

Why? Because not only is the democratic nationalism that is being carried out bringing in results, it has continued to be a key tool in the effort to bring national consensus. It is also playing an important role in blossoming our democratic unity.

As information show, we can look at democratic nationalism; which has become our basis for strengthening our democratic unity, from four basic interpretations. One is knowing own identity, and the second is knowing others' identity. The third is ensuring equal/mutual benefit and the forth is developing the state of affairs.

With regards to knowing ones identity, it is necessary to identify various interests and benefits, and common behaviors as well. And with regards to knowing others identity, it is important to identify the common interest and benefit that is between others.

And in order to ensure equal benefit for all, we all should mutually benefit without creating a sense of unevenness in national issues. And with regards to developing the state of affairs, it is important to handle it in a way that would benefit all in the appropriate manner. And the total sum of all this strengthens democratic unity by creating Democratic nationalism.

As it is known, many works have been done in the past years by looking at these issues in regards to the constitution. Even though it is not at the needed level, it was possible to implement the democratic nationalism principles that are put on the constitution. And this has opened the door to strengthen democratic unity. Of course in a country where democratic nationalism is realized, it is inevitable that democratic unity will blossom.

Thus, there have been efforts made to nurture our Democratic unity during the past 22 constitutional years. And in order to strengthen it, we should respect and protect the FDRE constitution, which is the basis of our democratic unity.

Of course, any people whose democratic unity is protected will inevitable realize the comprehensive development plan they aspire. In our country's case, as a result of the democratic unity that is being created in our country, our country’s nation, nationalities and people are implementing the national vision they planned to realize their renaissance. Thus, for the past 14 years, they have been walking through the path that will lead them to their renaissance.

As a result, they have been able to gain satisfactory results in most of the development sectors of the first growth and transformation plan they put out to realize their country's renaissance. Especially, with regards to hitting the Millennium Development Goals, they have done satisfactory work in each development goals. And they have become a benchmark for other developing countries as a result to this.

It has been a year since the second growth and transformation plan; which will go from 2016 to 2020 and holds goals that is linked to the first phase, started to be implemented. By thinking to bring economical transformation within this development plan, every citizen is putting each of their own contribution.

Of course the development plan will benefit all of our people at every level. The outcomes that will be garnered from the development plans are our hopes and pillars which will help us realize our renaissance. They are plans that will lead us to middle income status. And this can only be achieved, by strengthening our democratic unity. So, we should understand that our constitution is the basis of our Democratic unity and our renaissance.