The Myth of the Culturally and Ethnically Neutral State: How Should the Ethiopian State Respond to the Ethnic and Cultural Differences of its Citizens?

This paper addresses the challenge of organizing the public sphere in the multi-national society of Ethiopia. The author argues that since human beings are encumbered selves, the governing structure of the public sphere should be responsive to these encumbrances and should be informed by people's identities and notions of truth. In Ethiopia, there is a general agreement among academics that the state should not disregard cultural and linguistic identities. However, there is no consensus on how to respond to ethnic concerns. Some argue that federalism based on geographic convenience can sustain the various identities of citizens without compromising other concerns and demands. Others contend that institutionalizing ethnicity is necessary to address the inherent right to self-government of various nations and ethnic groups. In this paper, it is intended to show that there are compelling reasons to maintain the federation that institutionalizes ethnicity. This is because ethnic identities and cultures are important components of citizens' encumbered selves, and as such, such identities should inform the governing structure of the public sphere. The paper uses both secondary and primary sources of data, including unstructured interviews and discussions with key informants. It highlights the importance of acknowledging and accommodating the cultural and ethnic identities of citizens while also considering other concerns and demands. The study recommends further investigations into the merits and demerits of the territorial design of federation, as this is a complex issue that requires careful consideration. Overall, this paper contributes to the ongoing debate on how multinational societies should organize their public sphere. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing and accommodating the cultural and identity attachments of citizens, which are integral components of their personhood. The study recommends that policymakers consider these factors when designing the governing structure of the public sphere in order to ensure that it is responsive to the needs and concerns of all citizens.