Democratisation has been the subject of much scholarly discussion
during the past few years, notably the so-called ‘third wave’
that is
taking place in Africa and the former Soviet bloc. Of particular
interest is the concept of the abertura, or opening of the political system,
that many have come to believe is the prerequisite for a fully fledged
transition to democracy. After years of military rule, this is what
appears to have occurred in Ethiopia, and hence the aims of this article
are (i) to trace the origins and platforms of the various political parties
that have had a relatively open forum for opposition since 1991, (ii) to
evaluate their effectiveness both in providing a viable alternative to
the
régime in power and in aggregating the interests of the different
societal
and ethnic groups, and (iii) to examine the future of democracy in their
country.