The Illusion of Miracles: How “The Secret” and Positive Thinking Misguided Ethiopian Leadership

 

The Illusion of Miracles: How “The Secret” and Positive Thinking Misguided Ethiopian Leadership

Introduction

In the mid-2000s, Ethiopia witnessed a curious intellectual and ideological shift among key members of the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). During the twilight of Meles Zenawi’s leadership and continuing under Hailemariam Desalegn, influential officials in the ruling party embraced The Secret, a global bestseller by Rhonda Byrne. While this book promotes personal empowerment through the "law of attraction" and positive thinking, its adoption within the political leadership had profound and ultimately destabilising consequences.

This article critically examines how The Secret was not just a motivational read among Ethiopia’s elite but a symbol of a deeper ideological drift that replaced structured policy-making and constitutional governance with illusionary hopes of "miracles," pragmatism without principle, and ultimately, national crisis.

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The Secret: From Self-Help to Statecraft

Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret teaches that thinking positively and visualising goals can attract success, wealth, and health. Its core thesis — that the universe responds to individual thoughts like a magnet — captivated millions worldwide. However, in Ethiopia, some EPRDF officials went beyond personal inspiration. The book circulated within inner circles, shaping attitudes toward personal destiny and national development.

Senior officials began referencing the book’s language, not of structural reform or long-term planning, but of "manifesting prosperity" and achieving "miracles" through vision and belief alone. This translated into an uncritical embrace of optimism and voluntarism in political rhetoric.

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Prosperity Gospel Meets State Ideology

Parallel to this literary influence was the growing penetration of the prosperity gospel — a theological ideology emphasising wealth and success as signs of divine favour. Combined with The Secret's self-help mantra, it created a fertile environment for delusion: policy success was no longer grounded in legal, institutional, or economic rigour, but in “faith,” “vision,” and “miracles.”

Under Hailemariam Desalegn and later Abiy Ahmed, this blend evolved into a complete ideological shift. "Pragmatism" became the new label for governance, but it was hollowed out. It wasn’t pragmatic in the classical sense of flexible problem-solving rooted in facts; it was a metaphysical pragmatism, where merely claiming change was mistaken for actual transformation.

The Rejection of the Constitution and Institutional Breakdown

Emboldened by this ideological fog, the leadership distanced itself from the 1995 FDRE Constitution. They saw it as an obstacle to their "vision" of a new Ethiopia. Instead of reforming it through legal mechanisms, they sidelined it with rhetoric, speaking of unity, peace, and growth as if words alone could reconstitute a divided state.

What followed was a systematic erosion of federalism, a rejection of multinational identity politics, and a disregard for hard-won balances in Ethiopia’s governance model. Institutions were weakened, opposition voices were demonised, and a false narrative of rapid progress was pushed at every level.

This led directly to the deep crisis Ethiopia faces today: widespread conflict, economic instability, ethnic polarisation, and authoritarian consolidation — all justified under the banner of "miracle-working" governance.

Abiy Ahmed’s Rhetoric: The Peak of Illusion

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, emerging from the same political culture, has taken this blend of The Secret and prosperity gospel to new heights. He routinely speaks of "miracles" and "visions" and claims his party, the Prosperity Party, is "doing miracles in all aspects of the country."

But this rhetoric contrasts sharply with reality. Ethiopia’s economy faces high inflation, a fractured banking sector, rising unemployment, and debt distress. Armed conflicts continue in multiple regions. Rather than facing these challenges through policy innovation or dialogue, the government often responds with bombast, promising peace while launching new offensives.

This is not leadership grounded in realism; it is leadership entrapped in illusion.

Conclusion: 

The Danger of Magical Thinking in Governance

Books like The Secret can empower individuals, but when appropriated uncritically by state leaders, they can become dangerous tools of self-deception. Ethiopia's ruling elite has pushed the country into a perilous state by blending mystical optimism with shallow pragmatism and abandoning constitutionalism.

Actual change will not come from affirmations or slogans but from a return to rational governance rooted in the rule of law, inclusivity, evidence-based policy, and democratic accountability. Until then, the so-called miracles will remain mere mirages in the desert of political illusion.

Embracing Evidence-Based Initiatives: A Path to Smarter Management in Ethiopia

Introduction

The demand for more innovative, more effective management practices is skyrocketing in today's complex challenges and fast-paced change. For governments, businesses, and civil society in countries like Ethiopia, where resources are limited and the cost of failure is high, embracing Evidence-Based Initiatives (EBIs) is no longer optional—it is essential. This article explores EBIs, why they matter in the Ethiopian context, and how they can transform leadership and decision-making at all levels.

What Are Evidence-Based Initiatives?

An Evidence-Based Initiative (EBI) is a project, policy, or strategy guided by proven data, research, and facts rather than assumptions, ideology, or political trends. In management, it means making decisions based on what works, drawn from real-world results, studies, pilot programs, and successful models—not wishful thinking.

Unlike traditional initiatives that may rely on intuition or vague promises, EBIs are built on measurable outcomes and are continuously refined based on monitoring and evaluation.

Why EBIs Matter in the Ethiopian Context

Ethiopia faces complex issues: economic uncertainty, political fragmentation, public distrust, regional inequality, and institutional weakness. In such an environment, the margin for error is very narrow. Implementing policies or launching national programs without grounding them in evidence often leads to failure, corruption, and public dissatisfaction.

For example, recent attempts to centralise political power and promise rapid development through rhetoric of “miracles” — often influenced by the ideology of positive thinking — have led to broken promises and deepened national crises. Leaders made announcements of transformation without plans backed by data or feasibility studies.

This is where EBIs come in: by anchoring decisions in what is proven to work, leadership can avoid illusion and build real, lasting impact.

Key Principles of Evidence-Based Initiatives

1. Research Before Action

Before launching any project, managers and leaders should consult research, case studies, or data from similar efforts, locally or globally.

2. Pilot, Don’t Gamble

New ideas should be tested, monitored, and refined on a small scale before being implemented nationally or largely.

3. Monitor and Evaluate Continuously

Every initiative must include clear metrics, timelines, and feedback systems to measure progress.

4. Transparent Decision-Making

Public institutions must explain why a policy is chosen, citing the evidence behind it. This builds trust.

5. Adjust Based on Results

Flexibility is key. If something is not working, leaders must be ready to change course based on the evidence.

Examples of Potential EBIs in Ethiopia

Education Reform: Using international research and local data to design curriculum improvements that actually raise literacy and employment rates.

Conflict Resolution: Launching community peace initiatives based on models successfully reducing ethnic conflict in Kenya or Rwanda.

Agricultural Development: Promoting seed varieties or irrigation techniques that have already proven effective in similar ecological zones.

Challenges to Implementing EBIs

Lack of data infrastructure and trained personnel to collect, analyse, and interpret data.

Political interference that overrides evidence in favour of populist decisions.

Short-term thinking and pressure to deliver quick results undermine careful, evidence-based planning.

Limited funding for research and pilot programs.

These challenges, though severe, can be overcome with committed leadership, international partnerships, and civil society engagement

Conclusion: From Illusion to Impact

Ethiopia’s future cannot be built on slogans, political showmanship, or the fantasy of miracles. It must be built on evidence, accountability, and results. Embracing Evidence-Based Initiatives is not just a management trend — it is a survival strategy for nations that seek development, peace, and dignity for their people.

If leaders shift from wishful thinking to wisdom backed by evidence, Ethiopia can begin to resolve its crises, rebuild trust, and chart a more stable path forward. The time for magical thinking is over; the time for evidence-based action is now.