Modernization & the role of intellectuals - The expansion of modern education - The intellectuals - Ideas of reform - Social & political impact - Conclusion
Bahru Zewde is Emeritus Professor of History at Addis Ababa University and founding Fellow and Vice President of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences. He has authored many books and articles, notably A History of Modern Ethiopia, 1855-1974, Pioneers of Change in Ethiopia: The Reformist Intellectuals of the Early Twentieth Century and The Quest for Socialist Utopia, finalist for the Bethwell A. Ogot Book Prize, 2015.
Students of history will be aware of late nineteenth and early
twentieth century reformist groups such as the Young Turks or Young
Italy, youthful intellectuals in their respective societies, of
strong nationalist inclination who recognized the need for change
if their nations were to survive and thrive in the modern
world...Less well known is the group of intellectuals known as the
Young Ethiopians. Pioneers of Change in Ethiopia seeks to enlighten
us on this important group of young men. ...Until now, information
on this group has been scattered and rather sketchy...Bahru
contributes organization, definition, and clarity to this data, and
by doing so, brings new perspective to bear on the politics and
policies of emperors Menilek II and Haile Sellassie I. Bahru is
intrepid, to say the least, in his quest for documentation ...Bahru
produces a masterful analysis. ...He is to be congratulated on a
work well done, and one deserving wide readership. -
*H-AFRICA*
This is one of the most important books on Ethiopian history to
appear during the last couple of decades. ... This study is the
first to attempt to convey the full sweep of early twentieth
century intellectual history, and that in that role, it will no
doubt become foundational for Ethiopian studies. But it could be
argued that Bahru's work has, as well, a relevance far beyond.
Scholars of Africa and of South Asia may not be able to understand
colonialism fully without pondering the contradiction that Pioneers
of Change describes.Sometimes, it is only an absence that
illuminates certain aspects of a presence. -
*JOURNAL OF AFRICAN HISTORY*
Filling a void in the study of Africa in general and of Ethiopia in
particular... -
*CHOICE*
Zewde does a remarkable job of analyzing the rich literary material
produced by his subjects, some in the form of books and other
creative works and others in the pages of the Berhanena Salam
weekly. The portrait presented is that of a group of modernizing
intellectuals who attempted, directly and indirectly, to prod the
aristocracy to modernize Ethiopia. ... this splendid history is
well worth attention of serious students of Ethiopian and African
intellectual history. -
*AMERICAN HISTORICAL REVIEW*
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