The Influence of Ethiopia on Regional Stability in the Horn of Africa

The Ethiopian culture influences the Horn of Africa (HOA) regional economic and political stability because of the country containing around 80 ethnic groups, central location in the HOA, continued presence and impact on bordering countries, and a behaviors and norms developed from a diverse history of both productive and violent leaders and revolutions. Cultural norms and beliefs are integrated in Ethiopian’s combined church and state model of government causing most of the country’s problems within its own borders and regionally The United States, North American Treaty Organization (NATO) and other non-government organizations (NGOs) expended billions of dollars and resources to Ethiopia and the HOA for defensive and developmental purposes. This paper addresses the ability of Ethiopian culture to influence regional political and economic stability and United States interests in the HOA.

Ethiopia is the largest independent and tenth largest country in Africa and centrally located in the HOA. “It is a key country in the [HOA], and its problems often have repercussions in neighboring Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia and Sudan. Ethiopia held the headquarters of both the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa” (Makinda, 1992, pg. 9). In 2000, Ethiopia had 86 different known indigenous languages, a population around 61 million and over 80 different ethnic groups (www.globaledge.msu). Ethiopia’s culture contains a diversity of sub-cultures due to the vast amount of beliefs, customs, and norms associated with each ethnic, religious, and tribal group. This diverse culture directly affects Ethiopia’s actions internally and toward surrounding HOA countries due to struggles with government s...

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