Abstract:
This paper examines The Politics of Opposition in post - 2005 Ethiopia: Challenges and Impacts
on Ethiopian Democratic Party (EDP) and Blue Party. 2005 is selected because opposition
parties were able to secure more votes than ever before in this election. To address the objectives
of the study, the researcher employed qualitative approach with case study design and used
primary and secondary data sources. The primary data was collected through semi-structured
interviews and secondary sources such as books newspapers, other scholars’ works and different
documents also used. The data collected from the primary and secondary data sources were
discussed and analyzed thematically based on the emerged themes from participants response.
Hence, this case study aimed to explore the experience of these parties in the politics of
opposition by focusing on challenges, and impacts in post- 2005 National elections. Blue Party
and EDP were selected purposefully since they were active in Ethiopian politics of opposition as
national parties. They were also first and second in number of candidatures in 2015 national
election but they did not win elections or get representation. Political parties exhibited weakness
internally and faced challenges externally. But most opposition parties externalize their overall
weakness. This has its impacts on Ethiopian politics of opposition and political process of the
country. The study found that opposition parties do have internal and external challenges which
affect their activities and do have impacts on political process of the country. Parties are less
institutionalized, fragmented, absence of membership commitment and parties’ leaders’ time
limit. They also faced challenges from the incumbent party, media and from other institutions of
the country. Given research gaps in the domain, this study will help to improve the political
culture, democratic system and politics of opposition of the country.