An Exploratory Study on the Restructuring of the System of Government in Ethiopia, and the Search for an Electoral System best suited for Democratic Governance
Abstract
This paper seeks after some options for restructuring the system of government in Ethiopia while surveying models of government that could be compatible with the country’s democratic transition. Based on the presumption that the current regime is undemocratic, the study attempts to demonstrate that an urgent transformation of the country into a real democracy is critically needed. As such, relying primarily on a qualitative data analysis, the research assesses the advantages and disadvantages of the three widely-accepted models of democratic government--- presidential, parliamentary, and semi-presidential---based on the comparative experiences of established democracies. In particular, it deciphers the pros and cons of the model that is best suited for the country while suggesting areas of reform in the system that is currently in place. The study concludes that the semi-presidential form of government matches up well with Ethiopia’s future transition to a stable democratic state.