Part 3: The Collapse, Pages 120 - 138 Summary and Analysis

In 1974, the military takeover of Ethiopia began. It was not immediately an organized movement which aimed at political revolution. Rather, it started with uprisings of soldiers here and there, complaining about having to eat rotten food or not having access to water. Eventually, such an uprising began in Addis Adaba, near the capitol. Curiously, the Emperor made no attempt to stop or slow the progress of this rising as, one by one, the divisions of the military joined with the dissidents. Superficially, the military still maintained loyalty to the Emperor, and in a strange way, this pleased the aging ruler.

The Palace officials divided into three different factions in reaction to the crisis. One group known as the Jailers advocated direct action be taken against the rebels. They wanted their leaders to be...