Revue des sciences politiques et des affaires publiques
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Rule and Relation of Ethiopian Government to Political Parties: A Review

Usman Kedir Mude

Rule by law is recognized worldwide as an essential component and precondition of good governance and sound and sustainable economic development. The rule by law is based on key democratic principles, such as equality before the law, accountability to the law, separation of powers and participation in decision making. The relationship between the ruling party and opposition parties raises the question and the current political setting, the meaningful participation of opposition political parties in the political process has become largely inadequate. The ruling party envisages itself ‘as a vanguard political force, which is not inclined to compromise with opposition forces. Political parties are manifestations of citizens’ right to politically associate. Democratic governance is dependent on well-functioning opposition political parties. But the Ethiopia rule and regulation of theoretical understanding and practice has been varied and controversial. The parties should be organized around political ideologies rather than ethnic, religious, or regional identities. The country’s ‘political organizations are still seeing each other antagonistically and as ‘blood enemies’ rather than as responsible political actors. The rule by law based relation of ruling party and opposition parties are the larger expression of political settlements and expression of elite interests. Therefore in order for the country to make progress towards a more deliberative relation to political parties, blending theoretical knowledge, empirical research, and practical experience of discussion potential has to be developed.