Development, Academic Freedom and the Idea of a University: The Case of Addis Ababa University (1950-2005)

Abstract

This article explores the relationship between academic freedom and the idea of a
university examining the case of the Addis Ababa University in its life of fiveand-
half decades (/950-2005). I have described the historical data of the Addis Ababa
University using Ronald Barnett's analytical framework ideas of a university. a
university in a of society and a university for These three
metaphors represent three distinct epistemological stances and relationships
with or the state, These three ideas of a university are superimposed on the three
political case histories (monarchy, and revolutionary democracy) of
the Addis Ababa a 3x3 qualitative matrix analytical framework to
the data results thaI tentatively the dominance of the idea (J
for society mainly in the feudal and 10 some extent in the contemporary
periods. The idea of a university of was the most dominant paradigm in the
socialist It was interesting to learn from the data that the idea university in
society was alien 10 the Addis Ababa University in all of its historical and political
episodes. Addis Ababa University has never the mission of internal
with the goal which was common in traditional western universities.
However, in its claim of being accountable for public service. the Ethiopian University,
had sustained conflicts both within itself and with the state. In its nrf",."v"··,,
of freedom (where it played a vanguard role during the 1974 Ethiopian
Revolution) itself and the poor, it had sustained an environment where everybody
qualified to be a threat to the academic freedom of every other. In this sense the
University was both a victim and a perpetrator of political violence. The hostile slateuniversity
relationship had always resulted in boomerang effects: loss of life, dismissal
of members of the academic community, closure of the University, unstable
administration, etc. It is recommended in this paper that a cooperative II",,,,,,,'<J
relationship rooted in autonomy and academic the sense of the
special theory) will the university accomplish its historic mission, research and
This should be based and sustained by a reconstitution of a
deliberative democracy instead of power. If the political mission of the
is subordinated to its academic mission, with a on and
research, relationship could be mutually supportive and much
helpful for university autonomy and academic freedom, Ihe very preconditions for higher