The Challenge Face to Democracy in Ethiopia

Abstract

The central aim of this study was to focus on the challenges of democracy in Ethiopia, especially after 2018, analyzing the prospects and conditions of democratization. Qualitative methods were employed using secondary evidence and information sources. Data sources included articles from various journals, office documents, constitutions, decrees, and office policies, and insights from democracy scholars at Ethiopian universities and students engaged in democracy-related studies. This research sheds light on Ethiopia's obstacles to implementing democracy, providing valuable input for policy-making and political decision-making. It also highlights the sacrifices and rewards involved in the process of democracy building. The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) Constitution of 1991 stands as a testament to the country’s adoption of a new constitution during the 1991 transition period, ushering in a democratic system that embraced the Declaration of Human and Political Rights. However, numerous documents indicate challenges in its implementation, including political polarization, party conflicts, revolutions, insurgencies, structural challenges, weak democratic institutions like the National Electoral Council, corruption, civil society involvement, media influence, and economic disparities driven by global forces that impact democracy’s existence and sustainability. The intricate relationship between populism and democracy, the absence of robust institutions, and the presence of both extractive and inclusive economic institutions are also examined within the Ethiopian context.