Marxist Modern: An Ethnographic History of the Ethiopian Revolution

by Donald L. Donham

Modernity has become a keyword in a number of recent intellectual discussions. In this book, Donald L. Donham shows that similar debates have long occurred, particularly among peoples located on the margins of world power and wealth. Based on extensive fieldwork in Ethiopia―conducted over a twenty-year period― Marxist Modern provides a cultural history of the Ethiopian revolution that highlights the role of modernist ideas.

Moving between the capital, Addis Ababa, and Maale, the home of a small ethnic group in the south, Donham constructs a narrative of upheaval and change, presenting local people's understandings of events, as these echoed with and appropriated stories of other world revolutions. With the help of poststructuralist insights and theories of narrative, Donham locates a recurrent dialectic between modernist Marxism, local Maale traditionalisms, and antimodernist, evangelical Christianity. One of the most consequential outcomes of this interaction―until the late 1980s―was the creation of a more powerful state, one that penetrated peasant communities ever more deeply and pervasively.

Combining sophisticated theory with fascinating ethnographic detail, this study contributes to the theory of revolution as well as the study of modernity. In doing so, it seeks to integrate ethnography and history in a new way.

Genres: Africa, Anthropology, Ethiopia, Politics, History, Ethnography

264 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Yonathan]

the value of this book became even more important, considering what is going on in Africa at the moment. I don't know how many anthropologists look at the long duree, the long-view of history, while keeping account of the meanings of money, power and ideology.

still, i don't know how it would help the marxist (post)modern lovers of today. it set the stage for so many contemporary african writers. go get it, if you are a contemporary african writer.

i regret losing my copy. i can't remember where i lost this book, or meant to pick it up and never went back when i thought i had picked it up. or didn't have the money in my history of time thinking i would pick up the book.

[N.W. Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written with tons of information and intimate details. It was a bit difficult to follow at times (even when reading to Ethiopian history textbooks with it), and therefore I didn't finish it. Nonetheless, I felt rewarded at the end of my read and feel, if you put in the work, you will come out with a lot. His critical analysis of the Dirg and their relationships with the Student Movement on a local scale was phenomenal. Well done!