Freedom of association, ethnicity, and the transition to democracy

bibliographic database
Line

Periodical article

Title:	Freedom of association, ethnicity, and the transition to democracy
Author:	Haile, Daniel
Year:	1995
Periodical:	Verfassung und Recht in Übersee
Volume:	28
Issue:	3
Pages:	328-338
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Ethiopia
Subjects:	ethnicity democracy freedom of association
Abstract:	The lack of a strong civil society is perhaps one of the most serious impediments to the transition to democracy in Africa. This article reviews the situation in Ethiopia, focusing on the mechanisms utilized by the 1991 Transitional Period Charter to create a civil society. It examines how the right to form political parties and the recognition of the collective rights of cultural communities are safeguarded by the Charter. It shows that since the promulgation of the Charter several political parties, human rights organizations and other interest groups have been formed or have surfaced into the open, laying the basis for a civil society. Most of the new political parties are based on ethnic affiliation. The author concludes that although civic organizations exist in Ethiopia today, they seem to lack coherent strategies for promoting citizen awareness. The existence of intra-ethnic mistrust must be recognized and dealt with. Nevertheless, the results of the Ethiopian transition process so far are encouraging. Note, sum. (p. 271).