Abstract Guided by a freedom-based assessment of human development, this paper questions the compatibility of knowledge economy optimism and the authoritarian political order that prevailed in Ethiopia since the mid-2000s. It shows how the knowledge economy discourse has played a positive role in widening access to higher education; briefly summarizes assumptions of the ‘developmental state’ orientation endorsed by the ruling elite; and explains why the repressive political order has undermined the nation’s human development agenda. Synthesizing empirical policy accounts and normative arguments, the paper highlights intricate relationships between knowledge, freedom and development. It concludes that both the neoliberal vision of freedom and the developmental state account of democracy do not fully appreciate the importance of substantive freedom as an essence of a democratic political order.

中文翻译：

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埃塞俄比亚的人类发展乐观主义和政治陷阱

摘要在以自由为基础的人类发展评估的指导下，本文对知识经济乐观主义与自2000年代中期以来在埃塞俄比亚盛行的威权政治秩序的兼容性提出了质疑。它显示了知识经济话语如何在扩大高等教育机会方面发挥了积极作用；简要总结了统治精英所认可的“发展状态”取向的假设；并解释了为什么镇压性政治秩序破坏了国家的人类发展议程。综合经验性政策说明和规范性论点，本文强调了知识，自由与发展之间的复杂关系。