Restructuring an authoritarian state: ‘democratic renewal’ in Benin

Allen, Chris

doi:10.1080/03056249208703952

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Review of African Political Economy

Volume 19, Issue 54

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Restructuring an authoritarian state: ‘democratic renewal’ in Benin

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Author(s): Chris Allen ^a

Publication date (Print): July 1992

Journal: Review of African Political Economy

Publisher: Review of African Political Economy

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Abstract

Benin was an early example of transition from single‐party rule to competitive multi‐party politics, achieved through high levels of popular urban mobilisation in 1989–90. This article analyses the causes of the downfall of the former regime, attributing it to the erosion of state capacity and strength and to growing corruption, together with the expansion in the scope and strength of civil society and changes in consciousness arising from political struggle. The new regime is however limited in policy choice by debt and a structural adjustment programme, and has distanced itself rapidly from the workers and students who brought it to power. The immediate prognosis for democratic survival is thus poor.

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Journal ID (publisher-id): crea20

Journal ID (archive): CREA

Title: Review of African Political Economy

Publisher: Review of African Political Economy

ISSN (Print): 0305-6244

ISSN (Electronic): 1740-1720

Publication date (Print): July 1992

Volume: 19

Issue: 54

Pages: 42-58

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^a Department of Politics , Edinburgh University

Article

Publisher ID: 8703952 Coden ID: Review of African Political Economy, Vol. 19, No. 54, July 1992, pp. 42-58

DOI: 10.1080/03056249208703952

SO-VID: 61849403-698c-4c8c-9a9a-b2c93cfb91ca

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All content is freely available without charge to users or their institutions. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission of the publisher or the author. Articles published in the journal are distributed under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

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Figures: 0, Tables: 0, References: 21, Pages: 17

Bibliographic Note

Decalo S.. 1973. . ‘Regionalism, politics and the military in Dahomey’. . Journal of Developing Areas . , Vol. 7((3)): 449––78. .
1986. . Coups and army rule in Africa . , New Haven : : Yale University Press. .
Rosberg C G and Callaghy T M. , eds. 1989. . “‘Ideological rhetoric and scientific socialism in Benin and Congo Brazzaville’. ”. In Socialism in sub‐Saharan Africa . , Berkeley : : University of California Centre for International Studies. .
Glélé M.A.. 1969. . Naissance d'un état noir . , Paris : : LGDJ. .
June. 1968 . “‘Dahomey: coup within a coup’. ”. In Africa Report . June. , p. 46––54. .
Ronen D.. 1975. . Dahomey . , Ithaca : : Cornell University Press. .
Mowoe I J. , ed. 1980. . “‘Benin: the role of the uniformed leaders’. ”. In The performance of soldiers as governors . , p. 101––50. . University Press of America. .
Allen C.. 1989. . Benin, the Congo, Burkina Faso . , London : : Pinter. .
1990. . Livre blanc sur la torture au Benin 1972–1990 . Cotonou :
Brand R.. 1977/78. . ‘Structures révolutionnaires au Bénin: impact sur une société paysanne’. . Geneva‐Africa . , Vol. 16((1)): 67––88. .
Commission Speciale. . 1990. . Le livre rouge du pillage des banquet . , Cotonou : : Club ‘Action démocratique et républicaine’. .
Decalo S.. 1991. . Review of Allen 1989. . Africa . , Vol. 61((1)): 135––37. .
Godin F.. 1986. . Bénin 1972–82: logique de l'état africain . , Paris : : Harmattan. .
Ronen D.. 1987. . “‘People's Republic of Benin: the military, marxist ideology and the politics of ethnicity’. ”. In The military in African politics . , Edited by: Harbeson J. . p. 93––122. . New York : : Praeger. .
Vittin T.. 1990. . Le socialisme au Bénin: essai d'analyse fonctionelle . Bordeaux :
Allen C. . 1989. . Benin, the Congo, Burkina Faso . , London : : Pinter. .
Codo L.. 1986. . ‘Incidences économiques des flux transfrontalieres clandestins: Nigeria/Benin’. . Afrique contemporaine . , Vol. 140:: 11––23. .
Zekpa L. and Dossou A.. 1989. . ‘Impact du contre‐choc pétrolier au Nigeria sur l'économie béninoise’. . Revue tiers monde . , Vol. 120:: 893––905. .
Benin. . 1990. . Conférence nationale des forces vives de la nation du 19 au 28 Fevrier 1990 . , Cotonou : : ONEPI. .
Gbado B.. 1990. . En marche vers la liberté . Cotonou :
Quénum E.. 1990. . “‘Benin: l'explosion de la presse privé’. ”. In Multiplex . , Vol. Vol. 44. , p. 28––32. . Paris : : RFI. .

Comments

Comment on this article

[1] Decalo S.. 1973. . ‘Regionalism, politics and the military in Dahomey’. . Journal of Developing Areas . , Vol. 7((3)): 449––78. .

[2] 1986. . Coups and army rule in Africa . , New Haven : : Yale University Press. .

[3] Rosberg C G and Callaghy T M. , eds. 1989. . “‘Ideological rhetoric and scientific socialism in Benin and Congo Brazzaville’. ”. In Socialism in sub‐Saharan Africa . , Berkeley : : University of California Centre for International Studies. .

[4] Glélé M.A.. 1969. . Naissance d'un état noir . , Paris : : LGDJ. .

[5] June. 1968 . “‘Dahomey: coup within a coup’. ”. In Africa Report . June. , p. 46––54. .

[6] Ronen D.. 1975. . Dahomey . , Ithaca : : Cornell University Press. .

[7] Mowoe I J. , ed. 1980. . “‘Benin: the role of the uniformed leaders’. ”. In The performance of soldiers as governors . , p. 101––50. . University Press of America. .

[8] Allen C.. 1989. . Benin, the Congo, Burkina Faso . , London : : Pinter. .

[9] 1990. . Livre blanc sur la torture au Benin 1972–1990 . Cotonou :

[10] Brand R.. 1977/78. . ‘Structures révolutionnaires au Bénin: impact sur une société paysanne’. . Geneva‐Africa . , Vol. 16((1)): 67––88. .

[11] Commission Speciale. . 1990. . Le livre rouge du pillage des banquet . , Cotonou : : Club ‘Action démocratique et républicaine’. .

[12] Decalo S.. 1991. . Review of Allen 1989. . Africa . , Vol. 61((1)): 135––37. .

[13] Godin F.. 1986. . Bénin 1972–82: logique de l'état africain . , Paris : : Harmattan. .

[14] Ronen D.. 1987. . “‘People's Republic of Benin: the military, marxist ideology and the politics of ethnicity’. ”. In The military in African politics . , Edited by: Harbeson J. . p. 93––122. . New York : : Praeger. .

[15] Vittin T.. 1990. . Le socialisme au Bénin: essai d'analyse fonctionelle . Bordeaux :

[16] Allen C. . 1989. . Benin, the Congo, Burkina Faso . , London : : Pinter. .

[17] Codo L.. 1986. . ‘Incidences économiques des flux transfrontalieres clandestins: Nigeria/Benin’. . Afrique contemporaine . , Vol. 140:: 11––23. .

[18] Zekpa L. and Dossou A.. 1989. . ‘Impact du contre‐choc pétrolier au Nigeria sur l'économie béninoise’. . Revue tiers monde . , Vol. 120:: 893––905. .

[19] Benin. . 1990. . Conférence nationale des forces vives de la nation du 19 au 28 Fevrier 1990 . , Cotonou : : ONEPI. .

[20] Gbado B.. 1990. . En marche vers la liberté . Cotonou :

[21] Quénum E.. 1990. . “‘Benin: l'explosion de la presse privé’. ”. In Multiplex . , Vol. Vol. 44. , p. 28––32. . Paris : : RFI. .

Review of African Political Economy

Restructuring an authoritarian state: ‘democratic renewal’ in Benin

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