Projekt

In the self-description of most Ethiopians as well as in Ethiopian studies, Ethiopia is represented as a model of religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence in comparison to the conflict-ridden Horn of Africa. As such, many were caught by surprise when major conflicts between Christians and Muslims broke out, especially since 2006. The proposed study addresses the rise of religious conflicts in Ethiopia with a special focus on Christian-Muslim conflicts and against the backdrop of the long standing co-existence between the two religious groups. It examines the different actors involved in these conflicts and the local and global factors accounting for the rise of these conflicts. It does that through in-depth case studies in two selected sites. It is assumed that the Ethiopian case is paradigmatic to understand the religious turn in social identification and its increasing link to violence at a global scale. This is not only because of the higher level of religious diversity, but also due to the fact that the two religions have co-existed in Ethiopia longer than any other part of Africa. In fact, Ethiopia is the first place where Islam encountered Christianity outside of Arabia.

• Prof. Dr. Brigitte Reinwald

  Universität Hannover
  Philosophische Fakultät
  Historisches Seminar
  Fachgebiet Geschichte Afrikas
  Hannover
  

• Dr. Meron Zeleke Eresso

  Addis Ababa University
  Center for Human Rights
  Addis Ababa
  Äthiopien