Title: "Ethiopian Government and Tigray Forces Clash Over Political Representation and Autonomy"

The power struggles between the Tigray and Ethiopian governments were strongly centered around political representation and autonomy. These conflicts have significant consequences for the security, stability, and welfare of the people residing in Ethiopia and the Tigray region. As I have already analysed the case study of conflict in my first blog by providing complete detailed information. This has helped me to highlight the diverse facets of power struggle. To completely understand the convoluted situation, It is important to consider the theoretical perspective, which may highlight its complications and potential solutions for resolution. In this second blog – we will deeply focus on the Tigray conflict through the framework of securitization theory, the feminist critique of securitization theory, and biopolitics, in addition to the PARA school approach to in(securitization).

Securitization theory, examined by Ole Waever, how some of the obstacles are perceived as threats to national security, which permits the government to take extreme measures for the securitizations. We can observe securitization dynamics reflected in the language and actions of conduct of the Ethiopian government and Tigray forces and other participants including Eritrea. The conflict created by all sides was justified through the application of forces and other drastic tactics by depicting it as a security threat. Under Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the conflict in Tigray has been highlighted as a danger to the country’s unity and stability. They depicted Tigray forces, particularly the TPLF, as rebels seeking to disrupt the territorial integrity of Ethiopia’s borders and disturbing the stability of the country. The government justified its military involvement in Tigray by illustrating the situation as an issue of security. The narrative of securitization has been developed to generate the support of the public for the government’s decision and to justify the use of force to eliminate the perceived threat posed by Tigray forces.

Simultaneously, Tigray forces have also used security tactics to depict their fight for autonomy and the rights of the Tigrayan people, highlighting government actions as oppressive and unjust. They drew support from Tigray and gained sympathy from the international community for their cause by justifying their actions in terms of security. This security narrative successfully justified the Tigray's use of armed forces against the government by describing the conflict as a fight for self-determination and protection from government oppression. Moreover, Eritrea supported the Ethiopian government’s military campaign in Tigray, to combat the threat, that Tigray troops posed to regional peace. By securitizing the conflict, Eritrea aims to achieve its interests and ensure stability along its border with Ethiopia. All three perspectives justified the use of force.

Feminist critique of securitization theory, Lene Hansen provided a detailed explanation of how gender plays a crucial role in security discussion and practices. She argued that traditional studies such as securitization theory, tend to ignore the perspective of women. When we analyse the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia the theory given by Hansen’s feminists, we can better understand the influence of gender. In the conflict of Tigray, women, and gender minorities were mostly affected by violence, displacement, and loss of livelihoods. They underwent sexual violence, exploitation, and limited access to services. There was restriction to their contribution to peacebuilding because of the patriarchal norms present in Ethiopian society. Therefore, handling security issues in the Tigray conflict from a feminist perspective plays a significant role in shaping security. Hansen’s feminist theory has highlighted the ignorance of the experiences and voices of women and gendered minorities and prioritized state-centric approach and militarized response. The conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigray has become a security problem because they involved military forces to resolve this problem which directly worsened the situation of women, and questioning why they are facing discrimination and violence. However, they contributed to maintaining peace, fought for their rights, and provided support to their communities. Unfortunately, their effort remained unseen in traditional security systems because their primary focus was military tactics and state-centric approaches. According to Hansen’s women’s voices and gendered minorities are significant for maintaining peace and addressing the reason for the conflict. She challenged the traditional security theory that marginalized the women’s perspective and offered a feminist approach to a holistic understanding of security that gives gendered justice.

According to Michel Foucault, Biopolitics- describes the intersection of power and biology, by highlighting the fact that government and institutions regulate people by handling individual bodies. In reference to security studies, biopolitics explains how security practices shape the lives and bodies of individuals. Foucault’s theory has been used by PARIS schools to understand, how society shapes security discussion and practices. Using this theory makes us understand, how the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia is affected by biopolitics as well as its impact on population. The Ethiopian government shows the Tigray force danger to the country’s unity and safety. Which forced them to use military force to stop them. This depicted that as if everyone was part of the threat. The PARIS school approach to (in)securitization explained the significant role of societal processes, norms, and practices in shaping discourses and practices. In the Tigray conflict, we can notice, how the marginalization of the Tigrayan ethnic group within Ethiopian society makes the situation worse. Security was not only determined by state actors but how society treats different groups of people which determines people’s behaviour and experiences.

Biopolitics dynamics is connected with security narratives and practices in an attempt to control and govern the population. We can highlight the humanitarian consequences of securitization and militarized response to conflict through the biopolitical lens. The securitization of the Tigray conflict has led to widespread human rights abuses, displacement, and humanitarian emergencies. By using the biopolitics and PARIS school’s approach to (in)securitization we can examine the Tigray conflict. It depicts the security narrative connected to societal processes, norms, and power dynamics. Biopolitics describes how security discourses and practices govern and regulate populations, impacting their lives and bodies significantly. By understanding biopolitics dynamics, policymakers and practitioners can fabricate more nuanced and successful tactics to promote peacebuilding and ensure the safety of individuals. 

Conclusion

In the complicated structure of the Tigray conflict, we witnessed the battle with weapons in addition to a confrontation between identities and ideologies. We uncover the layers of power, gender dynamics, and societal influences shaping this crisis through the prism of securitization theory. Even in the middle of this chaos, there was a strong need for change- a need to restrict outdated ideas of security and adopt more comprehensive tactics that represent marginalised voices, challenge existing norms, and promote healing rather than harm. The Tigray conflict suggests we should imagine a world where peace is more than the absence of war but also shows the presence of justice, respect, and empathy for individuals.

References

• Ole, Wæver. 1995. “Securitization and Desecuritization.” InOn Security, edited by Ronnie Lipschutz. New York: Columbia University Press. https://www.libraryofsocialscience.com/assets/pdf/Waever-Securitization.pdf

• Hansen, Lene. 2000. ‘The Little Mermaid’s Silent Security Dilemma and the Absence of Gender in the Copenhagen School’. Millennium 29 (2): 285–306.

• Foucault, Michel. The history of sexuality: An introduction. Trans. Robert Hurley. New York: Vintage 95 (1990). (Selection: Part Five: Right of Death and Power over Life)  

• Shepherd, Laura J. 2009. ‘Gender, Violence, and Global Politics: Contemporary Debates in Feminist Security Studies’. Political Studies Review 7 (2): 208–19.  

• International Crisis Group. Finding a Path to Peace in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region. International Crisis Group, 2021. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep31549. Accessed 17 Feb. 2024.
  

• https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/conflict-ethiopia

• https://www.nytimes.com/article/ethiopia-tigray-conflict-explained.html