Ethiopia s unique system of ethnic-based federalism claims to minimise conflict by organising political power along ethnic lines. This empirical study shows that the system eases conflict at some levels but also sharpens inter-ethnic and intra-ethnic divides on the ground.

The ethnography of the Wolayta people of southern Ethiopia by Eike Haberland goes back to his research in Wolayta in the years 1954/55, 1967, and 1970/71. Following his research, Haberland wrote the present work, which he did not publish. It is a classic ethnography divided into the following chapters: Sacred kingship, myths of state, court culture and administration, law and justice, the meritorious complex, feasts and rituals, crops, economy and folkloric material. The ethnography is illustrated by historical photographs from the archives of the Frobenius Institute.

Drawing on nine case studies, this book offers a comparative ethnography of the contested powers that shape democratization in Ethiopia. Focusing on the competitive 2005 elections, the authors analyze how customary leaders, political parties and state officials confronted each other during election time.

Soils are critical to agriculture and, in turn, to food supply and livelihoods. Sustainable management of soils is crucial for a large proportion of the population of Africa. Contrary to many claims, soil fertility is improved and managed successfully by small-scale farmers there. Careful studies from widely different areas reveal how closely bound up soil management is with complex social, cultural and ecological factors - requiring a far more subtly tuned approach to development policy and practice. This work is a study of how the context of livelihood systems has to inform development policy and practice.

The essays in Transitions, Environments, Translations explore the varied meanings of feminism in different political, cultural, and historical contexts. They respond to the claim that feminism is Western in origin and universalist in theory, and to the assumption that feminist goals are self-evident and the same in all contexts. Rather than assume that there is a blueprint by which to measure the strength or success of feminism in different parts of the world, these essays consider feminism to be a site of local, national and international conflict. They ask: What is at stake in various political efforts by women in different parts of the world? What meanings have women given to their efforts? What has been their relationship to feminism--as a concept and as an international movement? What happens when feminist ideas are translated from one language, one political context, to another?

This new, fully updated 8th edition of Bradt's Ethiopia remains the most comprehensive, detailed and thorough guide available, particularly known for its strength of background information, coverage of off-the-beaten track areas, and in-depth details of hotels and other tourist facilities. It also contains far more maps than other guides. Bradt's Ethiopia is also the longest-serving English-language guidebook dedicated to the country, with a history of 25 years of research and expertise. This new edition has been updated by the original author, Philip Briggs, the world's foremost writer of Africa travel guides. Recent years have seen a notable rise in domestic and foreign private investment in the development of new hotels and national parks; this new edition includes all the most up-to-date details reflecting the recent changes, from development of tourist facilities to improved road infrastructure. Bradt's Ethiopia is ideal for visitors of all ages no matter the interest, whether travelling independently or as part of an organised group, from adventurous and active travellers interested in cultural, historical, and wildlife sightseeing to international conference visitors, spa tourists and community-based visitors looking for activities such as trekking and horseriding in the Rift Valley and Simien Mountains. Wildlife and birding visitors who come for Ethiopia's wealth of endemics are also catered for and this new edition includes a dedicated colour section on wildlife and birds. Of all the African nations, Ethiopia is most prone to misconceptions. The 1985 famine and the cracked barren earth of the Danakil Depression are not images quickly forgotten. But this fully updated guide refocuses the lens to reveal an ancient country that continues to surpass all expectations: from the ancient Judaic cultures of the fertile highlands to the Animist people of the South Omo Valley, from the Afroalpine moorland of the Bale Mountains National Park to the thundering Blue Nile Falls. This book also leads you further off the beaten track, so travellers can see more of this expansive and beautiful land, believed to be the cradle of humankind.

Don’t Throw the Book at Them addresses one of the most vital issues in contemporary missions. It is a manual for cross-cultural missionaries and national church leaders ministering in societies based on oral rather than written communication. Harry Box is a former missionary and researcher in Papua New Guinea and among the Aborigines of Central Australia. In this book, he explains the distinct characteristics of oral societies, how they differ from literacy-oriented societies, Jesus’ ministry to oral communicators, and why effective presentation of the Christian message demands that Western Christians change their approach to orality. He goes beyond case studies and analysis, allowing the reader to develop a detailed plan for communication.

. . . An engaging personal account of a public service career n the period leading to the 1974 revolution. It ...persuades and provides real insight into the genuine noblesse oblige of the first generation of technocrats drawn from the social elite of the post- war period. -James McCann, Boston University

Development is a key concept for thinking about the global relations between nations, in particular between North and South. But what exactly does it entail and in which forms do development practices manifest themselves? Are we dealing with aid or with co-operation, or perhaps with encounter? And which motives, philosophies of life and ideas about the course of nations and other human communities are lurking behind the programs of actual development? Why has the concept become so popular, that it seems to have become a substitute for the concept of history? Could it be that development programs which are usually rationally conceived, evaluated and managed, betray hegemonic practices, despite the good intentions of donor nations and development agencies? Or are development programs aiming at integration of the South into a global market? If so, could it be that the belief in development is some kind of a secular, quasi-religious view on the ways nations and people must develop? We know after all that religion often is a motivating source for many people involved in development practices. These questions are addressed in short essays by eminent experts in the fields of development studies, cultural anthropology, development policy and social philosophy. They critically analyse the discourses used in development practices. The ultimate focus of the essays is on the ways in which political and development agencies deal with morality, religion and spirituality. The authors come from Great Britain, India, Indonesia and the Netherlands. This volume will be attractive to those working in the fields of development cooperation, missionary work and faith-based international solidarity. Book jacket.

After more than 55 years of transmedia storytelling, 'Star Trek' is a global phenomenon that has never been more successful than it is today. 'Star Trek' fandom is worldwide, time tested, and growing, and academic interest in the franchise, both inside and outside of the classroom, is high; at the moment, more 'Star Trek' works are underway or in development simultaneously than at any other moment in history. Unlike works that focus on a limited number of stories/media in this franchise or only offer one expert’s or discipline’s insights, this accessible and multidisciplinary anthology includes analyses from a wide range of scholars and explores 'Star Trek' from its debut in 1966 to its current incarnations, considers its implications for and collaborations with fandom, and trace its ideas and meanings across series, media, and time. 'Star Trek: Essays Exploring the Final Frontier' will undoubtedly speak to academics in the field, students in the classroom, and informed lay readers and fans.