Federalism and the Role of Political Parties: A Reflection on the Ethiopian Experience

This study was intended to systematically analyze and evaluate the role of political parties in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Methodologically, this study employed a descriptive design and qualitative research approach and analysis. Both primary and secondary sources of data were used in this study. Key informant interview, and document analysis were the main methods employed for data collection. This study presents political parties as central agents of change in an institutional context of a federal political system. It argues that democratic federalism cannot function without political parties. This study further stresses that democratic federal system requires a system of governance which permits for a free and peaceful participation of contending political parties in a multiparty setting.