‘Goodbye to all that’: The short and sad story of socialism in Benin

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Abstract
Democratization of the former People's Republic of Benin was more similar to that in other African one‐party states than to that in East European regimes. It passed through three stages: first, popular discontent arose (1988–89) over nonpayment of public sector salaries, and shifted to demands for human rights and democratization; secondly, a national conference in February 1990 appointed a new Interim Government; and, thirdly, there was a transitional period (1990–91) in which a new constitution was approved, and local and national elections held. These elections were dominated by parties based, as in the 1960s, on patronage politics; this, the persisting economic crisis, and the weakness of the state may undermine democratic rule.

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