Beyond the Public Silence: Civil Society Activism and Authoritarian Rule in Ethiopia conclusion

This edited volume set out to address how citizens and civil society organisations (CSOs) under authoritarian rule relate to the state, engage in civic activism in a restrictive political setting, and act as representatives of their members and their constituents. Drawing on case studies from Ethiopia during the EPRDF era, this collection challenges the predominantly state-centric readings that have emphasised the ability of the authoritarian government to control civic activism and to enforce their will on citizens from the top down. This book intentionally seeks to balance the discourse by focusing on citizens and civil society. Further, it reveals how both citizens and CSOs adapt to restrictive political spaces, develop strategies to operate under non-democratic rule, and engage with government counterparts in a variety of interactions ranging from cooperation and coexistence to contestation. While acknowledging the power that authoritarian governments exert over civil society, and the ability to co-opt it, this collection demonstrates that civil society is not simply a passive victim of non-democratic governments but an active actor in its own right.