Philosophy Faculty Publications

Title

Return to the Source: Asres Yenesew and the West

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2011

Publication Source

Diogène

Abstract

This paper discusses the ideas of Asres Yenesew, who was a leading clerical scholar during Haile Selassie’s reign. Frustrated by the marginalization of Ethiopia despite the preservation of its independence, Asres identifies the introduction of Western education as the main culprit and derives the economic satellization of Ethiopia from the cultural ascendancy of the West. As a remedy, he proposes a return to the source by which alone Ethiopia can again recenter itself and make choices in accordance to its interests. He supports his proposal by expounding the empowering forces of some important components of the traditional system of social organization and cultural beliefs. The paper underlines the revolutionary message of Asres’s discourse, but also shows how the timidity of his political stand singularly diminished its resonance.

Inclusive pages

78-94

ISBN/ISSN

0419-1633

Comments

Permission documentation is on file.

Publisher

Presses Universitaires de France

Volume

3

Issue

235-236

Peer Reviewed

yes

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