The (un)making of opposition coalitions and the challenge of democratization in Ethiopia, 1991–2011

Abstract

A key challenge in the consolidation of a democratic system in transitional countries is the lack of effective opposition political parties to counter the dominance of incumbent regimes. In the case of Ethiopia, to be described in this article, opposition parties are weak, fragmented, and mutually antagonistic. Hence, in order to counter the dominance of the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), coalitions and alliances have been used by the opposition parties. But opposition coalitions remain unstable and prone to fragmentation due to both internal and external factors. This study analyses the factors responsible to the often repeated fragmentation of opposition coalitions in Ethiopia.

Keywords:

• democratization
• political parties
• coalition making
• fragmentation and elections

Notes

1. Sartori, Parties and Party Systems, 63.

2. Diamond and Gunther, “Introduction,” xiv.

3. Stokes, “Political Parties and Democracy,” 245.

4. Van Biezen, Political Parties, 1.

5. Doorenspleet, “Political Parties, Party Systems,” 169.

6. Dahl, Political Oppositions, xi.

7. Olukoshi, “Economic Crisis,” 29.

8. Huntington, The Third Wave, 267.

9. Mwakikagile, Nyerere and Africa.

10. Lindberg, Democracy and Elections, 80.

11. Lindberg, Democracy and Elections.

12. The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) is a coalition of four ethnic-based organizations – the dominant Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM), the Oromo People's Democratic Organisation (OPDO) and the Southern Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement (SEPDM).

13. See Gebru, Ethiopia: Power and Protest; Markakis, National and Class Conflict.

14. Balsvik, Haile Selassie's Students; Fantahun, The Ethiopian Students.

15. Kassahun, “Party Politics.”

16. Aklilu, Kefale, and Olika, “An Inventory of Ethiopian Opposition.”

17. Hussein, “The Debate over Rural Land.”

18. See Aalen, Ethnic Federalism, 42–5.

19. Merera, Ethiopia, 248.

20. Young, “Ethnicity and Power in Ethiopia,” 537.

21. Joireman, “Opposition Politics.”

22. Abbink, “Discomfiture of Democracy?,” 176.

23. Anon, “Behibret wist yetekestew wouzigib” [Controversy in the UEDF], Tir 17, 1998, Reporter, 2006; Anon, “EDEAPA-MEDIN beKinijit yewuhidet sened lay mehitem alasarifem ale” [EDUP-MEDIN refused to put its seal on Kinijit's unification document], Tikimt 13, 1998. Reporter 2006.

24. Aalen and Tronvoll, “The 2008 Ethiopian Local Elections.”

25. Tronvoll, “The Ethiopian 2010 Federal and Regional Elections.”

26. See “List of all Registered Political Parties” (1997), http://www.angelfire.com/ak/sellassie/politics/parties.html (accessed October 3, 2011).

27. Merera, Ethiopia, 110.

28. Beyene, “Yepolitika dirijitoch hibret tiyaqe be Itiopia,” 8.

29. Aklilu, Kefale, and Olika, “An Inventory of Ethiopian Opposition,” 30.

30. Aalen, Ethnic Federalism.

31. See ‘List of all Registered Political Parties’ (1997), http://www.angelfire.com/ak/sellassie/politics/parties.html (accessed October 3, 2011).

32. Tronvoll, “Political Repression.”

33. Aklilu, Kefale, and Olika, “An Inventory of Ethiopian Opposition.”

34. Pausewang, Tronvoll, and Aalen, Ethiopia Since the Derg, 35.

35. “Ye-Amarach Hailoch Yesiltan Wezigb,” Hidar 1992, Reporter, 2000.

36. Aklilu, Kefale, and Olika, “An Inventory of Ethiopian Opposition.”

37. “Ye-Amarach Hailoch Yesiltan Wezigb,” Hidar 1992, Reporter, 2000.

38. “Ye-Amarach Hailoch Yesiltan Wezigb,” Hidar 1992, Reporter, 2000.

39. “Ye-Amarach Hailoch Yesiltan Wezigb,” Hidar 1992, Reporter, 2000.

40. Vaughan and Tronvoll, The Culture of Power, 127.

41. Vestal, Ethiopia: A Post-Cold War African State, 202.

42. Vestal, Ethiopia: A Post-Cold War African State, 202.

43. Tronvoll, “Political Repression,” 159.

44. Tronvoll, “Political Repression,” 159.

45. Beyene, “Yepolitika dirijitoch,” 4.

46. Professor Mesfin was a leading critic of the EPRDF government and was founding chairman of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO). Dr Berhanu Nega was then chairman of the Ethiopian Economic Association (EEA). The EEA during his tenure organized a series of dialogues about Ethiopia's political and economic features. Dr Befekadu Degefe was also a member of the EEA.

47. T'obbia, “Yepolitica partiwoch eyetewezagebu nachew.”

48. The EDP joined with the EDU in 2003 to create EUDP (Ethiopian Unity Democratic Party) and it merged with MEDHIN – Salvation party of Colonel Goshu Wolde in 2005, changing its name into EDUP-MEDHIN. The EDUP-MEDHIN was again renamed as Ethiopian Democratic Party (EDP) in 2009.

49. Hassen, “Altebaberum yisebaberu yihon?,” 12.

50. Admassu, “Beagerachin yewodefit,” 21; Hailu, “Teqwamiwochm honu Ihadeg”; Lidetu, YeArem Ersha, 55.

51. Gebretsadik, “Yehibretu Tirmisna yesponser politikegnoch,” 8.

52. Lidetu, YeArem Ersha, 56.

53. Lidetu, YeArem Ersha, 56.

54. Mesfin, Agetuni: Temeren Wettan, 27.

55. Lidetu, YeArem Ersha, 72.

56. Mesfin, Agetuni: Temeren Wettan, 28.

57. Lidetu, YeArem Ersha, 76.

58. Lidetu, YeArem Ersha, 76., 110.

59. cf. Tronvoll, “The Ethiopian 2010 Federal and Regional Elections.”

60. Olukoshi, “Economic Crisis,” 29.

61. Olukoshi, “Economic Crisis,” , 30.

62. Olukoshi, “Economic Crisis,” 30.

63. Hyden, African Politics, 42.

64. Hyden, African Politics, 42.

65. Olukoshi, “Economic Crisis,” 31.