By Abdirezak Sahane Elmi
Writer and Geopolitical Analyst
We live in an era where truth competes not with ignorance but with deliberate distortion. Media ecosystems, both global and local, amplify selective narratives, promote emotional outrage, and often prioritize sensationalism over factual accuracy. Politics, rather than serving as a disciplined arena for national problem-solving, has increasingly become a daily theater of mutual criticism, where opposing actors seek victory instead of understanding. In such an environment, the largest victims are the ordinary citizens and the broader national interest. They are placed at the center of a political stadium where rational and irrational voices collide, often leaving society confused, polarized, and vulnerable.
Rationality as a Public Good
Rationality is not merely an individual virtue; it is a public good that sustains the health of nations. A rational society makes decisions based on knowledge, evidence, and long-term consequences. It encourages debate grounded in facts rather than emotional manipulation. When rationality guides public discourse, political leaders are incentivized to act responsibly, institutions become more accountable, and citizens are empowered to distinguish between truth and propaganda. Without rationality, however, every social issue becomes a battlefield of competing passions. Public policies lose coherence. Trust deteriorates. Conspiracy theories spread faster than facts. And societies drift into cycles of fear and reaction rather than progress and stability.
The Ethiopian Case: A Nation at the Crossroads
Ethiopia stands as a vivid example of the destructive consequences of irrational political culture. Instead of dialogue driven by evidence and collective interest, our political space has been crowded by:
- Identity-based emotionalism instead of policy-based reasoning
- Media platforms amplifying unverified claims
- Political actors prioritizing short-term victories over long-term stability
- Competing elite narratives that weaponize history instead of learning from it
These dynamics have turned national debates into zero-sum contests, where each side claims exclusive ownership of truth and moral authority. Ordinary Ethiopians, who desire peace, development, and honest leadership, find themselves trapped between extremist voices. As a result, national interests, economic stability, social cohesion, and institutional integrity, are subordinated to political theatrics.
A Critical Note on Ethiopian Writers and Intellectual Responsibility
One of the most troubling features of Ethiopia’s intellectual landscape today is the behavior of many writers who approach their work not with the intention of discovering and presenting truth, but with the goal of defending a political line they already support. Instead of balancing perspectives, interrogating their own assumptions, and investigating facts before putting pen to paper, they choose to justify the positions of their preferred group, party, or ethnic bloc. This habit is not simply a minor flaw, it is a deep moral decay that must urgently be corrected.
The danger lies in the fact that written work is not temporary. Words spoken today may be forgotten tomorrow, but words written today will become part of the historical record. They will shape how future generations understand this era. A writer’s opinion, once published, may influence public thinking, political emotions, and even national policies. Therefore, Ethiopian writers must understand that every article, every commentary, every “analysis” they release today will have either a positive or a negative impact on their children tomorrow. Their names will be documented in history not just as writers, but as either constructive contributors to public understanding or as participants in deepening confusion and division.The consequences of irresponsible writing are not theoretical. Ethiopia has already suffered tremendously from biased historical literature. Many earlier historians selectively glorified certain ethnic groups while demonizing others; they exaggerated victories, concealed atrocities, rewrote events to suit political agendas, and manipulated history to justify power structures. Their works, which remain in circulation, have become one of the biggest burdens on the current generation. For example, some imperial-era writers portrayed certain communities as inherently “civilizing” forces while labeling others as “uncivilized,” “rebellious,” or “primitive.” These narratives did not simply distort the past; they shaped policies, justified oppression, and continue to fuel resentment and mistrust today.
Even in recent decades, writers have contributed to polarization by presenting one-sided stories of conflicts. When violence erupts in a region, some writers rush to defend “their side,” publishing emotional accounts that ignore the suffering of others. Others freeze complex political events into simplistic stories: one group is entirely guilty, the other entirely innocent. These narratives travel quickly on social media and find their way into public consciousness. Over time, they become part of the nation’s fragmented collective memory, making reconciliation far more difficult.
A responsible writer, however, approaches their work differently. They start by acknowledging that they may not know the full story. They question their own biases. They ask difficult questions even of the group they sympathize with. They speak with restraint, aware that words have consequences. They check facts, verify sources, and seek out multiple perspectives. They write as if future generations, their own children will read and judge every paragraph.
Therefore, I strongly advise Ethiopian writers: do not allow your work to become a source of historical pain, as the work of many past historians has become. Do not write with the heat of emotion or the narrow vision of factional loyalty. Write with a sense of responsibility, humility, and balance. Ethiopia needs writers who heal, not those who inflame; writers who clarify, not those who confuse; writers who illuminate the truth, not those who distort it.
Your pen is powerful. Use it to build the future, not to burden it.
Why Irrationality is Dangerous
Irrationality does not simply distort political debates, it fundamentally reshapes the entire public environment in ways that are corrosive, destabilizing, and often irreversible. When reason loses its guiding power, societies descend into a unique type of political crisis where facts no longer possess authority and truth becomes negotiable. In such an atmosphere, emotion becomes the dominant currency of public discourse, and this shift has far-reaching consequences.
When emotions override reason, the following patterns become common:
- Rumors evolve into political weapons, spreading rapidly through communities and digital platforms, shaping public opinion long before truth has a chance to emerge.
- Hatred becomes a substitute for policy, with leaders and activists gaining support not by offering solutions but by amplifying anger.
- History is rewritten to justify present hostility, turning the past into a tool of retaliation rather than a resource for learning.
- Communities begin to fear one another instead of cooperating, because public narratives increasingly portray the “other” as a threat rather than a fellow citizen.
- Political actors thrive by dividing rather than unifying, since irrationality rewards those who inflame emotions, not those who build bridges.
But irrationality is not sustained by politicians alone. Writers, commentators, and intellectuals also play a crucial role, sometimes intentionally, often unconsciously. When writers abandon rationality, they become amplifiers of conflict, not mediators of truth. Instead of examining issues through evidence and balanced judgment, they engage in emotional writing that reinforces fear, anger, and biased interpretations.
In many cases, writers contribute to the crisis by:
- Publishing one-sided narratives that frame their preferred group as always right and others as always wrong.
- Using emotionally charged language that inflames tensions and encourages hostility.
- Failing to verify information, relying instead on hearsay or partisan claims.
- Confusing personal grievances with national analysis, thereby misleading the public.
- Ignoring the long-term consequences of writing that deepens division and misinforms future generations.
This lack of intellectual discipline magnifies irrationality across society. A misinformed citizen is vulnerable; a misled community is unstable; but a miseducated nation is endangered. Writers who fail to exercise rationality inadvertently validate the most extreme voices and delegitimize moderate ones.
The result is a public sphere where:
- Even well-intentioned leaders cannot gain trust because misinformation is louder than truth.
- Institutions lose credibility, as irrational narratives portray them as enemies or conspirators.
- National priorities, such as development, peace, and justice become hostage to reactionary impulses.
- Ordinary citizens internalize fear and suspicion, making dialogue nearly impossible.
Ethiopia’s recent turmoil polarized narratives, regional grievances, and elite manipulation cannot be understood without recognizing this erosion of rational public reasoning. The nation’s crisis did not emerge solely from political decisions; it grew from the loud voices, emotional writings, and selective narratives that filled the information space. Irrational writing and irrational politics reinforce one another, creating a destructive feedback loop.
In such a climate, reasoned voices are drowned out, truth becomes fragmented, and society drifts toward decisions driven not by collective interest but by collective emotion. This is why restoring rationality particularly among writers who shape public understanding is not simply desirable, but essential for Ethiopia’s stability and survival.
The Path Forward: Cultivating a Rational Public Culture
Reversing the dangerous trend of irrationality requires more than momentary outrage or temporary reforms, it demands a deep cultural transformation, one in which rationality becomes the foundation of national dialogue, intellectual engagement, and public decision-making. This transformation is neither simple nor quick, but it is essential if Ethiopia is to escape the cycle of polarized narratives, emotional politics, and destructive misinformation that has characterized recent years.
A rational public culture begins with a collective recognition: truth cannot defend itself unless people are willing to defend truth. Nations that collapse into chaos do so not merely because their leaders failed, but because their societies gradually abandoned the discipline of critical thinking, objective analysis, and intellectual honesty. Ethiopia must not allow itself to fall further into that danger.
“Restoring rationality requires action on multiple fronts”
1. Strengthening Critical Thinking in Schools, Universities, and Public Discourse:
Education must go beyond memorization of facts and begin cultivating the skills that sustain democratic and intellectual life: questioning assumptions, evaluating evidence, challenging bias, and distinguishing between reasoned argument and emotional manipulation.
A population trained to think critically is far less likely to be misled by political propaganda, social media rumors, or historical distortions. Universities, especially, must reclaim their role as guardians of reason, not participants in partisan polemics.
2. Expecting Leaders to Justify Their Positions With Evidence, Not Slogans
A society guided by rationality holds its leaders accountable to facts, data, and transparent reasoning.
Leaders should not be celebrated for shouting the loudest, insulting opponents, or weaponizing ethnic sentiment; they should be judged by their ability to explain policies, present evidence, and defend their decisions through logic.
When citizens demand this intellectual standard, politics becomes an arena of ideas rather than an arena of emotional warfare.
3. Promoting Media Literacy and Public Awareness
In an age where misinformation spreads faster than truth, media literacy is not optional, it is a national necessity.
Citizens must learn how to evaluate sources, question sensational claims, and differentiate between investigative reporting and political manipulation.
A media-literate society becomes resistant to demagogues, conspiracy theorists, and the digital echo chambers that currently inflame Ethiopia’s divisions.
4. Encouraging Civil Debate Grounded in Respect and Logic, Not Anger
Rationality does not require agreement; it requires disciplined disagreement.
A mature society understands that debate is a tool for refinement, not destruction. Citizens and writers should feel free to challenge one another but with logic, evidence, and civility, not insults or threats.
This change alone would significantly reduce political hostility, allowing Ethiopians to discuss sensitive issues without fear or emotional escalation.
5. Building Institutions That Reward Competence and Integrity
Institutions shape national behavior. When public institutions reward competence, integrity, and accountability, rationality naturally becomes the norm.
However, when institutions prioritize political loyalty, personal networks, or ethnic favoritism, rational discourse collapses, and irrational actors rise to influence.
Nation-building requires institutions that protect truth, encourage objectivity, and resist manipulation.
A Rational Culture Enables Productive Disagreement
A rational political culture does not eliminate disagreement nor should it. Disagreement is essential for democratic growth and intellectual diversity.
But rationality ensures that disagreements are:
- productive, rather than destructive;
- respectful, rather than hostile;
- evidence-based, rather than emotionally fabricated;
- focused on solutions, rather than blame;
- oriented toward national progress, rather than personal or group victory.
When a nation argues with reason, it advances. When it argues with anger, it collapses.
Rebuilding rationality is therefore not merely a cultural preference it is an existential requirement for Ethiopia’s unity, stability, and future.
Conclusion: Rationality as the Foundation of National Renewal and Survival
In the face of growing global distortion, increasingly polarized political landscapes, and the collapse of factual clarity, the necessity of rationality has never been more urgent. What Ethiopia faces today is not merely a crisis of politics or governance, it is a crisis of thought, a crisis of truth, and a crisis of collective moral responsibility. The erosion of rationality has allowed misinformation to replace evidence, emotion to overpower judgment, and self-serving narratives to overshadow national interest. This is the foundation upon which division grows, institutions weaken, and entire societies drift toward irreversible decline.
The Ethiopian experience illustrates this danger with painful clarity. In our nation, political actors amplify identity-based emotionalism, media platforms circulate unverified claims, and elite groups manipulate history to justify their agendas. Ordinary citizens, who desire peace and progress, become captives of competing irrational forces. National priorities economic development, social cohesion, and institutional stability are overshadowed by the relentless noise of polarized narratives. The result is a public environment defined not by reasoned debate but by fear, suspicion, and reaction.
Yet the problem does not lie solely with politicians or media institutions. Ethiopian writers and intellectuals, those entrusted with shaping public understanding play a central role in either advancing rationality or deepening irrationality. Far too many write not to illuminate truth but to defend predetermined loyalties. They frame entire ethnic communities as saints or enemies, glorify one-sided histories, and contribute to collective trauma by producing narratives that mislead rather than educate. Because written work shapes the memory of a nation, irresponsible writing becomes a cultural wound that future generations must endure. This is why intellectual responsibility is not optional, it is a moral duty.
The restoration of rationality, therefore, must begin with a reaffirmation of truth as a national value. It requires Ethiopian writers, commentators, activists, educators, and citizens to embrace humility, evidence, and fairness. It requires institutions that reward competence, political leaders who justify their decisions with facts, and an educational system that teaches critical thinking rather than memorization. It requires citizens to question claims, challenge propaganda, and refuse to be instruments of emotional manipulation. And above all, it requires a collective commitment to treat disagreement not as a threat but as an opportunity for national refinement.
A rational public culture does not silence debate—it elevates it. It transforms conflict into dialogue, suspicion into trust, and fear into understanding. It allows diverse communities to coexist without perceiving each other as threats. It strengthens institutions by grounding them in transparency and accountability. It ensures that writers become healers of national wounds, not instruments of division. Without rationality, there is no meaningful democracy, no credible governance, and no sustainable peace.
Ethiopia stands at a crossroads. One path leads toward deeper irrationality, emotional politics, and the fragmentation of national unity. The other leads toward renewal through reason toward a political culture that values evidence over rhetoric, justice over revenge, and truth over convenience. Our survival as a nation depends on our ability to choose the latter path. Rationality is not just an intellectual preference, it is an existential necessity. In an age where truth is fragile and noise is overwhelming, rationality remains our strongest defense against chaos and our most reliable instrument for building a peaceful, united, and prosperous Ethiopia. The future of our children, the integrity of our history, and the destiny of our nation all depend on our willingness to anchor public life in truth, discipline, and reason.
Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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