Domestic politics and leadership factors in Ethiopia's involvement in peacekeeping

• Date: 12 December
• label.tijd 13:00 - 14:00
• Location: International Institute of Social Studies (Room 4.39) 

In this Research in Progress Seminar, Yeshiwas Degu Belay discusses the domestic influence on Ethiopia’s (dis)engagement in international peace operations.

Since the early 2000s, Ethiopian involvement in peacekeeping has become a central aspect of its foreign policy. This commitment is evidenced by active diplomatic participation in security affairs and substantial deployment of military and civilian personnel in international missions across multiple conflict areas, notably in Africa. The origins of this engagement date back to the post-World War II era when Ethiopia aimed to assert its independence and sovereignty through international activities.

In the seminar, Yeshiwas Degu Belay engages with the role of the state with a focus on uncovering how domestic developments have shaped Ethiopia’s participation in peacekeeping efforts, a question which is often overlooked in academic literature.

He first traces Ethiopia’s past and recent international engagements under different political regimes. He then analyses how domestic politics and leader images have influenced the state’s approach to international peacekeeping from 2003 to 2023.

No registration is required to attend this event in-person.

Please send an email to Dr Zemzem Shigute Shuka at shuka@iss.nl if you would like to receive the Zoom link to this event.

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