OWN WAYS OF DOING: NATIONAL PRIDE, POWER AND CHINA’S POLITICAL CALCULUS IN ETHIOPIA

The paper analyzes the relationship between China and Ethiopia, highlighting how Ethiopia's 'developmental state' model and strategic location in the Horn of Africa make it a key partner for China. It details Chinese investments in infrastructure, energy, and telecommunications, while noting that China's political influence is constrained by Ethiopia's strong national pride and centralized power structures. The document also explores China's increasing role in regional stability through the African Union and IGAD.

• Ethiopia serves as a critical strategic entry point for China in Africa due to its diplomatic influence, its role in the Horn of Africa, and the presence of major regional institutions like the African Union (AU) and the UN Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa.
• The Ethiopian government employs a 'developmental state' model characterized by a firm grip on the economy and political power, which allows it to set the agenda for its foreign partners, including China.
• Chinese economic involvement in Ethiopia is heavily focused on large-scale, symbolic infrastructure and energy projects, including the AU headquarters ($200 million), the Addis Ababa light-rail system, and the Tekeze Dam.
• Despite strong party-to-party links between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), China's ability to shape Ethiopian governance is limited by Ethiopia's own political culture and national pride.
• China is increasingly utilizing Ethiopia as a platform to expand its influence over regional stability and peace and security, engaging with the AU and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
• There is a distinct difference between European and Chinese engagement in Ethiopia: the EU primarily treats Ethiopia as an aid recipient, while China has established a comprehensive political and economic partnership.
• Chinese telecommunications involvement through ZTE has expanded connectivity but has also faced criticism for poor quality and suspected use for government surveillance and censorship.
• Ethiopia's internal political instability, including protests in the Oromia and Amhara regions and conflict in the Ogaden region, poses risks to Chinese investments, as seen in the 2007 attack on Sinopec workers.

APA

DITTGEN, R., & DEMISSIE, A. A. (2017). OWN WAYS OF DOING: NATIONAL PRIDE, POWER AND CHINA’S POLITICAL CALCULUS IN ETHIOPIA. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Occasional-Paper-249.pdf

Chicago

DITTGEN, ROMAIN, and ABEL ABATE DEMISSIE. OWN WAYS OF DOING: NATIONAL PRIDE, POWER AND CHINA’S POLITICAL CALCULUS IN ETHIOPIA. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2017. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Occasional-Paper-249.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=DITTGEN |first1=ROMAIN |last2=DEMISSIE |first2=ABEL ABATE |title=OWN WAYS OF DOING: NATIONAL PRIDE, POWER AND CHINA’S POLITICAL CALCULUS IN ETHIOPIA |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=January 2017 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Occasional-Paper-249.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{dittgen2017own, author = {DITTGEN, ROMAIN and DEMISSIE, ABEL ABATE}, title = {{OWN WAYS OF DOING: NATIONAL PRIDE, POWER AND CHINA’S POLITICAL CALCULUS IN ETHIOPIA}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2017}, month = jan, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Occasional-Paper-249.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }