Abstract

Political participation entails a broad range of activities through which people express their opinion and try to take part in shaping of decisions that affect their lives. It is necessary for stable political system and consolidation of democracy. The purpose of this study was to examine the challenges political participation in rural Ethiopia. The research employed qualitative methods to collect and analyze data. Both primary and secondary sources of data were used. Whereas primary sources of data were collected through interviews secondary sources were obtained from the analysis of related literatures. The study found out that the challenges that impede people’s access to political participation were related with personal, socio-cultural, and political factors. Accordingly, low political knowledge and skill, political inefficacy, time restraints, lack of political motivations, trust deficit, weak opposition political parties and absence of freedom were fond as main challenges that reduces political participation of rural people that have contributed for the undermined political development and democracy in the country.

Keywords: Challenges, Political participation, Rural Ethiopia