Yesuf Ebrahim

Member States of the Federation Have Equal Rights and Powers?: the Issue of Asymmetry in the Ethiopian Federalism (An Empirical Study) Yesuf Ebrahim

The principle at work in symmetry is to deal equally with alleged equals. Assuming symmetry is a desirable feature in federations, does it mean there is no room for asymmetry? (If any), what factors warrant the resort to asymmetry? Assuming again there is a possibility for asymmetry, does a limit exist beyond which it becomes dysfunctional? A major contribution of the book is the detailed analysis of the manner by which asymmetry pertains to a great deal of issues in federations and how it can be frequently misconstrued. The book assesses possible challenges asymmetry may pose and at times also considers a resort to asymmetry when it is warranted to help the functioning of federations. Chapter 1 provides introductory points. Chapter 2 presents background information on the notion of federalism. Chapter 3 provides a broad treatment on the issue of asymmetry. Chapter 4 addresses the issue of asymmetry in the Ethiopian federation. This book can serve as a basis for reflection on the implications of asymmetry for people particularly responsible for the federal process and for future researchers to ponder further on the issues raised.