these states expressed concerns over revenue collection and expenditure performance as parameters. This may be attributed to their lack of capacity compared to the more developed regional states. Despite this concern on the part of emerging regional states, the budget allocation formula process is still considered by all to be sufficiently inclusive, participatory, and geared toward consensus-building. Therefore, the onus is on the federal government to keep this process inclusive, participatory, and consensual. Having started with this practice, the hope is that it should only be improved upon. Any lesser approach would undermine the credibility of the process with the likelihood of transforming it into a source of conflict rather than the currently perceived instrument of cooperation and development. 125. Lack of a Rule of Law Culture: The CSAR asserts that the rule of law is not respected in Ethiopia. While the CRM notes this assertion, it did observe another perspective on the issue during its meetings with local people outside Addis Ababa. This perspective has to do with the clash between current laws and existing norms. Laws are usually written legal prescriptions that determine what is permitted and what is prohibited, and the sanctions attached to violations. Norms are typically cultural practices which may or may not be supported by law. Norms change more slowly than laws. In societies such as Ethiopia, as is the case elsewhere, the transformation from an imperial order to a military order - and now to a federal democratic order - has seen rapid changes in laws and legal systems. Yet, habits, attitudes and social practices struggle to keep pace. For example, while constitutional law now guarantees women equality, social norms resist the full implementation of any such law. Hence, there are persistent challenges to the rule of law that must be constantly tackled by governing institutions and authorities, as well as by ordinary citizens. Failure to do so constantly and earnestly undermines the credibility of laws and diminishes claims to the respect of democratic governance and observance of the rule of law. This is why there cannot be a half-hearted commitment to enforcing constitutional law and statutes that guarantee rights and clarify duties and responsibilities of citizens. Government institutions and functionaries, at both the federal and regional state levels, must be seen to be earnest and diligent custodians of public trust. There cannot be a significant gap between the rules on the books and practice on the ground. 126. A tendency toward cynicism and moderate alienation seems to be growing in some quarters, largely among some opposition parties. They seem to be increasingly questioning the federal government’s commitment to equity, especially in public service appointments; social justice, with respect to treatment of opposition and the use of federal security forces; equal access to economic opportunities; and, democratic values, as pertaining to media access and electoral matters. - 77 -