Powers in the Village: Rural Benin Between Democratisation and Decentralisation
Author(s)
Bierschenk, Thomas; Olivier de Sardan, Jean-Pierre
Abstract
The Republic of Benin has often been cited as a model democracy in the African context. This article addresses the following three related questions: How have free presidential and parliamentary elections affected political dynamics at the local level, especially in the rural areas where most people live? What do rural people think about the change of national regime? How will decentralisation affect local government? Based on empirical research in rural Benin, it shows that democratisation means more of the same hybrid and composite form of local government. The boundaries between the state and private organisations (including Northern NGOs), and between the national and local levels, remain blurred. Local political arenas are more fragmented than ever, and informal politics flourish. This not only dilutes power at the local level, as different veto powers block one another, it entails constant negotiation between those involved, making political processes less predictable and local political institutions less accountable. Decentralisation is only making matters worse.
