Change Leads to Peace In Ethiopia

    This past week Ethiopia's prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, was awarded one of the highest achievements in the world: the Nobel Peace Prize. The decision came earlier than anticipated, but more than appropriate. To be awarded this prize, Ahmed had to make some considerable changes for the better. 

    In his country, he is giving his people who were once bound to a mostly Authoritarian State more freedom by giving them multi-party elections and freeing political prisoners. Additionally, although he is towards the beginning of his term, Ahmed has already ended a bloody 20-year military standoff that killed over 100,000 with neighboring country Eritrea. A Washington Post article by Max Bearak demonstrates the hope instilled in the Ethiopian people when he writes "...his initial decisions in office have prompted an outpouring of hope that [peace] will be achieved"(Click here to read the full article). Ethiopian people find Ahmed to be moving their country in the right direction.

    Although it is very fortunate that Ethiopia is rebounding in such a manner, many countries like Afghanistan, Syria and South Sudan, just to name a few, are suffering from war and violence. Do you think these types of countries would see more peace if they were to use similar tactics as prime minister Ahmed, or would it backfire? Why?