A Critique of The Ethiopian Revolution

Abstract

The Ethiopian military's accession to power in 1974, and their subsequent proclamation of a programme of land reform and nationalisation, evoke a number of parallels in the Third World on which its study could shed light. But the military's claim to espouse socialism and its allegiance to the Soviet Union-however these are interpreted-situate its policies within the even broader context of the struggle for socialism and by reference to what is but an aspect of this struggle, the debate on what constitutes socialism. Halliday and Molyneux's study, The Ethiopian evolution,' gives expression to an increasingly influential position in this debate; it both reflects on and represents political forces which are challenging anew the demarcation that Marxism has drawn between itself and reformist currents on the characterisation of socialism.