From Addis to the World: A Diplomat's Truth on Ethiopia, Africa & Global Politics | AGI Podcast

Описание: Join host Abraham Asrat on the AGI Podcast for a profound conversation with Dr. Tesfaye Desalegn, a seasoned Ethiopian diplomat and global affairs expert. In this episode, we journey from the classrooms of Addis Ababa to diplomatic missions worldwide, unpacking lessons on education, public service, and the complex identity of Africa on the global stage.

Dr. Tesfaye shares his incredible personal story overcoming material poverty, pursuing education across Ethiopia, India, the UK, and the US, and making the daring leap from economics to a 16-year diplomatic career. We delve into the true meaning of diplomacy beyond the stereotypes, the generational shifts in learning and work ethic, and a critical examination of Ethiopian and African pride in the modern context.

This is a conversation filled with hard truths, historical insights, and hopeful vision for the future.

🔍 In this episode, we discuss:

(00:00) Introduction & Dr. Tesfaye’s diverse background

(05:00) Education in Ethiopia: Copying dictionaries, scarcity, and what it built

(16:00) The transition from Trade Ministry to Diplomatic Service

(20:00) Pre-internet diplomacy: How intelligence was gathered with paper clips

(26:00) The real meaning of diplomacy vs. public perception

(30:00) Evaluating Ethiopian diplomats on the world stage: Strengths & cultural challenges

(36:00) Moving to the US: Life after the Foreign Service

(42:00) The "Ethiopian Pride" debate: Asset or liability for Africa?

(48:00) Understanding Africa's problems: Colonialism vs. Internal Governance

(55:00) Can Africa achieve true sovereignty and self-sufficiency?

(01:04:00) The role of aid and the crucial need for human capital

(01:11:00) A shocking story of African leadership at an international conference

(01:15:00) Defining career challenges and pivotal life decisions

(01:19:00) Parenting the next generation: Should they face our hardships?

📚 Mentioned: The Marshall Plan, TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on African Development)

👤 About our guest:
Dr. Tesfaye Desalegn is a multidisciplinary expert with a background in economics, international trade, and economic policy. He served as a diplomat for Ethiopia for over 16 years, with postings in Japan, the UAE, and Sudan, working on issues from trade and investment to complex conflict analysis. He holds degrees from Addis Ababa University, the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, the University of Nottingham, and completed postgraduate research at Georgetown and Howard University in the USA.

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