Law and Development in Ethiopia: A Historical Overview

Abstract

Abstract
Law and Development have been a field of academic study for almost half a century.
Internationally, the law and development movement got momentum in the 1960s and ’70s.
Despite contention on the nature of laws, the successive law and development
movements have emphasized the significant role law plays in economic development. It
is underlined that an efficient and effective legal and judicial system is among the pillars
which support economic development in developing countries.
This article attempts to explore the historical evolution of the relationship between law and
development in Ethiopia. It gives highlights on how the international law and
development paradigms shaped the law and development relationship in Ethiopia. It
pinpoints how the different economic policies which prevailed in the country were able
to shape the role of law in development.