The Next struggle for Hegemony: Political calmness in the middle of a storm.
By Teodros Kiros

In a typically wise style, Dr, Ghelawdewos Araya wrote,
“If the EPRDF acts in the same manner as it did during the 2005 election and grabs power by force, it should not be a shocking revelation, for it has become standard practice in EPRDF’s operations to stifle any democratic process that is perceived as threat to the status quo. The Ethiopian people knew too well about this kind of scenario and it is no longer a mystique obscurity. But they could be scared of government forces including the intimidating cadres, the police, the secret service, and the military forces.”

He is right. Even if Medrek does not win this time, it is as if it is meant to be, so that it could come to power peacefully by the force of a forceless argument, which will strike chord with the pulse of the silent Ethiopian majority.

Storms are always followed by calm, so are the hearts of the Ethiopian poors, who will wait for organization to plan the future. That organization, that force which links the hearts of the poor to political space, is Medrek.

Medrek is indeed the future of Ethiopia.

In the middle of the storm, Medrek must continue its work of political education and consciousness raising, fully aware that it may not win in the immediate
election. After the storm vanishes political calmness will lead the way, and
the struggle for political hegemony will ensue, slowly, intently and patiently.

Political action like writing is craft. It is born out of the womb of calm
planning, and vigilance to fortune, as Machiavelli advises. Organization is a
blend of fortune and flexibility. The much counted on participation and deliberation of the Ethiopian people will take the form of a sustained debate and combat of ideas on the floors of the parliament with the slimmest minority, and backed by peaceful marches in the cities and towns of Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian poors will give the political struggle its living content, and Medrek will provide the needed organizational form.

The struggle for political hegemony is mediated by organization, the organization of the Ethiopian poors and the enlightened members of privilege, should the latter choose to struggle for participatory and deliberative democracy.

Our real work has been stimulated by the storm but our quest for cultural hegemony is the task of political calmness, the cardinal features of which are participation, deliberation and organization.