The culture of power in contemporary Ethiopian political life

This paper looks at the culture of power and politics in Ethiopia, focusing on the nature and potential of political opposition to the ruling party, EPRDF. It argues that, for at least the next 10 years, there seem to be few viable national alternative political forces to the parties of the EPRDF. The most influential and important agents of change with whom cooperation agencies such as Sida can work with continue to be the political leadership of the ruling party.

This study advocates an analysis of power that takes account of the political culture, knowledge, and beliefs of Ethiopia’s diverse citizens. The authors argue that involving all Ethiopians in decisions affecting their lives is one of the most significant challenges to sociopolitical transformation. It looks at

• power in the village and the community
• associational life and the emergence of civil society
• state and the government; and the political party system

One of the most important changes in Ethiopia today is the restructuring and strengthening of woreda (district) administration, involving the new structures of cabinet, speaker, and parliament/council, as recipients, managers, and monitors of the new wereda block grants

Although the EPRDF government is unlikely to change radically its vision and activities in the political sphere, the current situation is important to press for accelerated democratisation to be realistically and constructively applied. In the wake of the war, programmes of funding and loans are being reactivated at unprecedented levels, and the ruling party has emerged from its renewal process apparently with a greater commitment to openness, transparency, and pluralism. It may be that this can provide a context conducive to increased political policy dialogue.