Lecturer: Dereje Fikre [B.

A in Civics and Ethical

Education & M.A in International Relations ]

2018/19
 Can you define the term civics?

 Civics’ → Latin ‘civitas’, which implies citizens.

 Citizens are a legal member of politically organized

community called state

 Civics is the study of rights and duties of citizenship.

 it is the study of government with attention to the role of

its citizens.
 It deals with the right and responsibilities of citizens.
also concerned with the intensive study and analysis of political
institutions such as the legislative
purpose of government, the nature of law, and the way private
behavior affects the public order and the political system is also
the concern of civics.
In general, civics is a branch of social science which deals with
• the rights and responsibilities of citizens
• theory and practices of democracy
• the purpose and function of government.
• The subject matter of civics originated from the natural
behavior and level of interaction among human beings.

• Aristole explains this in two ways:

Man is a social animal

No one can live outside the society
man as a social being interacts with other members of the
society.
So, Civics is concerned with teaching citizens:
 to live in harmonious and peaceful life with other citizens

to resolve conflicts peacefully among them selves.

‘Man is a political animal’

no human being can escape from the deeds of

politics

His/hers day-to-day life is either directly or indirectly

affected by it
• For this reason:
 human beings have to know the workings of politics,
institutions that affect their day to day life,
 above all the duties and rights that they have in the
political community in which they are leading their
life.
 What is civic education?
Civic education is also a subject that will enable citizens
• To develop participatory skill in their country
• To cultivate democratic ideas and principles
• To develop the capacity to make decisions
In general civic education is an education which helps to acquire the
following attributes:
•Civic knowledge which includes principles of democracy, operation of
democratic governance. It also involves concepts relating to democracy.
•Civic skills which refer to the cognitive skills that enable students to
understand explain or compare and evaluate principles and practices of
government.
•Participatory skill- This involves actions by citizens to monitor and
influence public policies and seeks resolutions for public issues.
To sum-up civic education will enable us:
Think objectively and critically
Be tolerant to all forms of diversity without any kind of prejudice
Understand the social, economic, political forces that are
influencing your country as well as the world
Make decisions independently
Be responsive to patriotism, fundamental rights and freedoms
Follow democratic ideals of life.
 The Greek civilization was started in city states of Sparta and
Athens. Thus Civic education started in these city-states.

 Civic education in this old time helped to create competent and

responsible citizens.
 During the medieval period, religious institutions gave citizenship
education.
 During modern time renaissance , reformation, enlightenment
and social Revolution (English revolution(1688),the American
war of independence(1776) and the French revolution(1778)
helped for the emergence of modern democratic concepts. This
then helped for the growth of modern civic education
 In Ethiopia civic education was given starting from the beginning
of modern education (1908).

 In Ethiopia, civics education was introduced to the school

curriculum during the reign of Emperor Hailesilassie with name
of “moral Education ”.

 It had been offered as moral education with the purpose of

creating passive ``citizens”.

 The subject emphasizes on gave glory of the king as he is an

‘Elect of God’.
The “moral education” was started from grade 7-12. Its contents
by then were hardly based on social convention rather they were
related with the Bible and the Orthodox Tewahido Christianity.
For instance in grade seven, Contents like:
 origin of man and his duty,
 the first men & the divine rule of God.
In grade ten, Contents like:
 Spiritual life of man,
 faith, respecting God, and
 belief in God were included.
In general the aims of the subject by then were:
 to serve the monarchical system
 to consolidate the power of the Emperor
 to produce patriotic citizens
But moral education had helped to shape the young generation to
identify right from wrong.
 During the Derg era, Civic Education was included in the school
curriculum with the name of “Political Education”.
 prompt the youth grow up with socialist out look
 to inculcate Marxism - Leninism ideology
 Developing the socialist ideology of citizens
The current government has introduced civics and ethical
education, in order to produce competent, active ,responsible
and well informed citizens. Thus civic education at current period
has taken into account all realities and in particular it aims:
 To make citizens know their rights, duties, constitution and
about the government system.
 To promote and protect diversities and strengthen common
values of the society (Unity in Diversity).
 To become a good Ethiopian citizen
 Sources of Civics and Ethics Education
Where do the contents and principles of civic and ethical
education come from?
There are three main source of civic and Ethical Education
1) Theoretical sources
 Civic education by its nature is related with other fields of study.
2) Documentary sources
sources which exist in the forms of
 international agreements
 conventions, constitutions,
 decisions and enactment of legal bodies etc
3) Societal sources
 different social institutions such as family, school, community,
religious institutions, mass media, civic society etc.
 What makes civic and ethical education an interdisciplinary
subject? The knowledge, practice, theories, principles of civic and
ethical education is drawn from those sources. This makes civic
 Goals of Civics & Ethical Education

a) To create ideal citizens

b) To strengthen national character and patriotism
c) Promote the development of democratic outlook and
strengthening Democracy
d) d) Strengthening national and international integration
e) ) Building civic competence in citizens
f) Promoting the culture of civic responsibility
g) g) Promoting civic virtues:
 Objectives of Civics Education
 The cotemporary Ethiopia, civics and ethical education is aimed
to create citizens who:
Know how his government is organized and operates
Know law and how law is made
Understand economic policies and processes
Know political systems
Understand the power division and decision making
process
Accept diversity and resolve conflicts peacefully.
have knowledge of human rights
stood for equality and justice
Works for the common good.
In general, the very purpose of learning Civics is to create good
citizens
 What are the essential (quality) characteristics of good citizen?
A good citizen is one who:
 Up holds democracy and support the democratic system
 Pursue wisdom
 Respects law
 Actively participates in the cultural, socio-economic and political
affairs of the society
 Develops culture of saving
 Is hard working and industrious
 Is patriotic for his country and peoples
 Responsible
  Stands for justice and fairness
 Is self-reliant and confident
What are the essential components of Civic Education appropriate
for a democratic society?
What are the rationale of civics and ethics in Ethiopia?
 To build up democracy, citizens need to know about democracy,
its principles, values, processes, structures, challenges and
prospects.
The second major rational why we learn civics is to have good
knowledge and awareness about the social and economic
conditions and challenges of the country.
 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens
1.Rights of Citizens:
• A citizen is entitled to enjoy the following rights:
The right to get necessary protection from the state
The right to get social services that is having access to
health, education, water, electricity, housing and other
facilities
The right to enjoy human and democratic rights
Right to work and employment
 Right to elect and be elected
 Duties of Citizens:
• Every citizen has the duty to:

 Respect the constitution and other laws of the country,

 Take part in public affairs like political, economic and
social activities,
 Respect the rights of other people,
 Serve in the national security and defense,
 Bear duties in times of advertise,
 Preserve historic and cultural heritages of the country,
CITIZENSHIP,PATRIOTISM AND CIVIC
PARTICIPATION
 CITIZENSHIP
What is citizen?
an individual who is legally recognized as a member of
state.
Citizens are people that have full rights to be full members
of a particular a state.
For instances, the right to vote, getting social
services, and protection by the state.
 What is citizenship?
 It is the legal status of an individual member to be a citizen of the
a state.
 It refers to the official recognition of an individual integration
into a given political system.
 Citizenship represents a relationship between the individual and
the state, in which the two are bound together by reciprocal rights
and obligations.
 Citizenship is also defined as the right and duties of citizens
residing within a state.
 It is an instrument of identification.
 Citizenship in all state are not the same, it depends on the nature
of state and their respective gov’t.
 It is not static/rigid.
 All individuals residing within a state may not be its citizens.
 the historical survey of citizenship
 In ancient Greek city state, not all member of the city state
where provided equal rights.
 But, the Greek city states exercise democracy for the first time
that had not opened the door of democracy for all member
of the city states.
 The three social groups in Greek city state
» Citizens
» Plebeians
» Slaves
 In ancient Rome citizenship was limited to the small and
privileged group of people.
 In medieval period, people were expected to give their loyalty
to their feudal lords.
.
 the historical survey of citizenship

• The modern concept of citizenship is associated with the rise

of the demand of people for increased demand in freedom
and participation in political, economic and social affair of
their state.
Dimension of Citizenship
Scholars agreed that, we can identify at least five major
domains/aspects which constitutes of citizenship.
1) The Civil Dimension of Citizenship: Refers to a way of life
where citizens define and pursue commonly held goals
related to democratic conceptions of society.
It includes freedom of speech, expression and equality before
the law, as well as the freedom of association and access to
information.
 Cont…

2) The Political Dimension of Citizenship: It involves the right to

vote and political participations.

• political citizenship refers to political rights and duties of citizens

with respect to the political system.
 Cont..
3) Economic citizenship is also another aspect of citizenship which
refers to the relation of an individual towards the labor and
consumer market and implies the right to work and to a minimum
subsistence level.
4) The Cultural Dimension of Citizenship
• This dimension of citizenship refers to awareness of a common
cultural heritage.
 Cont..

5) Developmental citizenship: This notion of citizenship has

been reflected in Article 43 of the constitution.
• For instance, “the people of Ethiopia as a whole, and each
Nation, Nationalities and People in Ethiopia have the right to
improved living standards and to sustainable development”.
6) Environmental citizenship: As indicated in article 44 sub article
one of the constitutions, citizens have rights to live in a healthy
environment.
 Philosophical Discourses on Citizenship
• There are three perspectives that emerged in political theory that
advances a specific conception of citizenship:
1) Liberal Citizenship: Liberal citizenship is a distinct conception
and institutionalization of citizenship whose primary value is to
maximize individual liberty and equality.

2) Communitarian Citizenship: According to communitarians

view, citizenship is rooted in a culturally defined community,.
 Philosophical Discourses on Citizenship
Republican Citizenship
• Republican citizenship has an ethical as well as a legal dimension.
 QUALIFICATION FOR CITIZENSHIP
• Are legal requirement or criteria to acquire or loss
citizenship of a state.
• No uniform qualification for citizenship in the
world.
 Usually exist in different states in different terms of
rules, laws and principles.
 There are two qualifications for citizenship.

1. Ways of acquiring citizenship

2. Ways of loosing citizenship
 1.Ways of acquiring citizenship
 There are two ways.
I. Birth ( involuntary method)
II. By naturalization or by law (voluntary method)
I. By birth
 A majority of people acquire citizenship by birth.
 it has two broad principles
a) Principles of Jus sanguineous(the right to blood):-based on the
decent or blood relation of the child with its parents
There exist some differences between states in applying this rule.
Some states may require both parents of a child to become their
citizen. Others may require at least one of the parents of a child to
become their citizen.
Some states provide the citizenship of the mother and the father of
a child as important and Some states provide the citizenship of the
mother and the father of a child as equally important (For example
Ethiopia).
 Jus soli(the right to soil

• Jus soli(the right to soil):-refers to citizenship by the birth place of

the child .

• The U.S.A. and Britain, most other common wealth countries,

and most Latin American countries are some of the examples that
use the rules of Jus soli.

True/False

Any child born within the territory of the state becomes a

citizen.
 Cont.…

• Citizenship by birth does not mean that any child born within the
territory of the state becomes a citizen.

• Delegates of foreign countries with diplomatic mission &

international organization representatives and workers cannot
claim citizenship with their working territory.

• For example, a child is not a citizen by place of birth if born from

foreign diplomatic within the territory of that state.
 2. Citizenship by law(naturalization)
• It is a process by which citizenship status is given to a foreigner by the
state when he/she should satisfy the required criteria.
• It includes:
a. Marriage
A woman marries a man of another country can have
the possibility of acquiring her husband's country ci/ship
b. Option
A person of a multiple citizenship has the possibility to
opt the citizenship status of one country.
c. Acquisition of domicile
When a person is able to get permanent residence.
d. Appointment as gov’t official
Citizenship by job.
e. Grant on application.
Granting citizenship to a person that can fulfill the necessary
requirement for citizenship
f. Substitution:-
It is both ways of acquiring and loosing citizenship.
a process of acquiring a new territory by
cession(peacefully) or subjugation violently.
3. Citizenship by Political Case: This third alternative to
acquire citizenship status.
• By Force: Occupied state individuals are forced to
acquire conquering state citizenship. This has been the
case for many states.
• By Voluntary Process (Cession): Due to willful merger of
one state with another state, people of state which
decided to join another state will get citizenship of that
state.
• Citizenship by Re-integration/Restoration: This is a
system whereby a person who had lost citizenship of a
state due to certain reasons can get back citizenship on
fulfilling conditions laid down.
 Dual citizenship

• Having citizenship status of two countries at the same time.

• It arises because there is no common international law relating to
citizenship. The most common reasons for dual citizenship are
these:
Marriage to a citizen of another country.
Adoption by parents who are citizens of another country.
• For instance A child born abroad to United States citizens Will
acquire not only United States citizenship but perhaps the
citizenship of the country in which the child was born (jus solis).
 Ways of losing citizenship
a. Renunciation:-
 it is the right given to every body to give up his/her
previous nationality based on his/her interest.
 This is more of a legal way
 Has got an international recognition by UN
b. Deprivation:-carried out when citizens commit certain
serious crime against the national interest or the regime.
c. Lapse:-way of losing citizenship when a person stays outside
for a long and continuous period of time.
d. substitution
 Ethiopian nationality law

 Acquisition Of Ethiopian Nationality According to the Proc. No.

378/2003.
 Article 3 : Acquisition by Descent
1) Any person shall be an Ethiopian national by descent
where both or either of his parent is Ethiopian.

1) An infant who is found abandoned in Ethiopia shall,

unless proved to have a foreign nationality, be deemed
to have been born to an Ethiopian parent and shall
acquire Ethiopian nationality.
Art. 4:Acquisition By Law
Any foreigner may acquire Ethiopian nationality by law
in accordance with the provisions of Articles 5-12 of
this Proclamation.
Art. 5: Conditions To Be Fulfilled
A foreigner who applies to acquire Ethiopian nationality
By law shall:
1) have attained the age of majority and be legally capable
under the Ethiopian law;

1) have established his domicile in Ethiopia and have lived in

Ethiopia for a total of at least four years preceding the
submission of his application;
3) be able to communicate in anyone of the languages of
the nations/nationalities of the Country;
4) have sufficient and lawful source of income to
maintain himself and his family;
5) be a person of good character;
6) have no record of criminal conviction;
7) be able to show that he has been released from his
previous nationality or the possibility of obtaining such a
release upon the acquisition of Ethiopian nationality or
that he is a stateless person; and
8) be required to take the oath of allegiance stated under
Article 12 of this Proclamation.
Art. 6 : Cases of Marriage
A foreigner who is married to an Ethiopian national may acquire
Ethiopian nationality by law if:
1) the marriage is concluded in accordance with the Ethiopian
laws or in accordance with the laws of any other country where
the marriage is contracted;
2) there is a lapse of at least two years since the conclusion of the
marriage;
3) he has lived in Ethiopia for at least one year preceding the
submission of his application; and
4) he fulfilled the conditions stated under Sub-Articles (1), (7)
and (8) of Article 5 of this Proclamation
Art. 7: Cases of Adoption
 An child adopted by Ethiopian. national may acquire
Ethiopian nationality by law if:
1) he has not attained the age of majority;
2) he lives in Ethiopia together with his adopting parent;
3) Where one of his adopting parents is a foreigner, such
parent has expressed his consent in writing; and
4) the condition stated under Article 5(7) of this
Proclamation has been fulfilled.
Art. 8: Special Cases
A foreigner who has made an outstanding contribution
in the interest of Ethiopia may be conferred with
Ethiopian Nationality by law irrespective of the
conditions stated under Sub-Articles (2) and (3) of
Article 5 of this Proclamation.
Art. 9: Children of a Naturalized Person
1) A person who has acquired Ethiopian Nationality by
law may apply for the his minor child living with
him in Ethiopia; provided, however, that where the
applicant is the only naturalized parent, the consent
of both parents shall be required for naturalization of
the child.

1) A child whose application for naturalization has been

submitted in accordance with Sub-Article (l) of this
Article shall be conferred with Ethiopian nationality
where the applicant is able to show that the child is
released from his previous nationality or the
possibility of obtaining such release.
 PART FOUR :LOSS OF ETHIOPIAN NATIONALITY

Art. 19: Renunciation of Ethiopian Nationality

1) Any Ethiopian who has acquired or has been
guaranteed the acquisition of the nationality of
another state shall have the right to renounce his
Ethiopian nationality.

1) An Ethiopian who intends to renounce his nationality

in accordance with this Article Sub Article (1) shall in
advance inform the Authority in the form prescribed
by the Authority.
3)The renunciation of the nationality of a minor child
pursuant to Sub-Article (1) of this Article shall be
effected by the joint decision of his parents or, where one
of his parents is a foreigner, by the decision of the
Ethiopian parent.
4) An Ethiopian who has declared his intention to
renounce his nationality may not be released until:
a. he has discharged his outstanding national
obligations; or

a. where he has been accused of or convicted for a

crime, he has been acquitted or served the penalty .
Art. 20: Loss of Ethiopian Nationality upon Acquisition
of Other Nationality
1) Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 19 (4) of this
Proclamation, any Ethiopian who voluntarily acquires another
nationality shall be deemed to have voluntarily renounced his
Ethiopian nationality .

1) An Ethiopian who acquires another nationality by virtue of

being born to a parent having a foreign nationality or by being
born abroad shall be deemed to have voluntarily renounced his
Ethiopian nationality unless he has declared to the Authority
his option to retain it by renouncing his other nationality within
one year after attaining the age of majority, or unless there has
been an earlier express renunciation of his Ethiopian
nationality pursuant to Article 19 (3) of this Proclamation.
• Art. 22: Re-Admission to Ethiopian Nationality
1) A person who was an Ethiopian national and who
has acquired foreign nationality by law shall be
readmitted to Ethiopian nationality if he:
1) returns to domicile in Ethiopia;
2) renounces his foreign nationality; and
3) applies to the Authority for re-admission.
2) The provisions of Sub-Article (1) of this Article
shall also apply to a person who has lost his
Ethiopian nationality pursuant to Article 20 (2) of
this Proclamation.