Social movement struggles against the high cost of living in Burkina Faso

Abstract

In reaction to the global food price crisis, people marched in the streets of numerous cities of the Global South, protesting against unaffordable prices for foodstuffs. This article investigates the conditions that enabled this mobilisation. It analyses the case of Burkina Faso, where protests were particularly intense. Building on approaches from social movement studies, it is argued that in Burkina Faso, temporal political opportunities (the price crisis opening up a window of opportunity) and dynamic politico-institutional structures (“cycles of contention”), in combination with social movements’ organisational resources, explain the way the price issue was framed and why mobilisation was possible.

Résumé

En vertu de la crise globale des produits alimentaires, les gens ont défilé dans les rues de nombreuses villes du pays du Sud pour lutter contre le prix inabordable des denrées alimentaires. L'article présente les conditions qui ont permis cette mobilisation. Celui-ci analyse l’étude de cas du Burkina Faso dans lesquelles les manifestations étaient particulièrement intenses. En s'appuyant sur les approches des études en mouvements sociaux, il est affirmé qu'au Burkina Faso, les occasions politiques temporelles (la crise de prix menant à une ouverture aux nouvelles possibilités) et les structures politico-institutionnelles dynamiques (« des cycles de discorde »), en combinaison avec des ressources organisationnelles des mouvements sociaux, expliquent la façon dont la question du prix est énoncée et la raison pour laquelle la mobilisation est rendue possible.

Keywords:

• political protest
• social movements
• cost of living
• Burkina Faso
• Africa

Notes

1. FAO food price index, FAO website.

2. For a discussion of the various explanatory factors, see Akram-Lodhi (2012, 120–121).

3. Africa News, 12 August 2008, 18 July 2008, 16 December 2008, 12 February 2009, 28 May 2009, 12 June 2009 and 8 August 2009; The Guardian, 9 April 2008, IRIN, 31 March 2008; Amin (2012); Berazneva and Lee (2013); Harsch (2008, 15); Janin (2009); Maccatory, Oumarou, and Poncelet (2010); Schneider (2008); Sneyd, Legwegoh, and Fraser (2013).

4. See, for instance, special issues of Genèses, no. 81, 2010; Review of African Political Economy, 37 (125), 2011; and Stichproben – Vienna Journal of African Studies, 11 (20), 2011

5. Interviews, CCVC and member organisations, Bobo-Dioulasso, 25 November 2011, Ouagadougou, 2 September 2012.

6. Amnesty International (2009); Ouestaf News, 28 February 2008.

7. Fasozine, 19 March 2011; “La CCVC demande au gouvernement de LAT de réduire significativement le coût de la vie!” (press conference/press release, 7 May 2012), CCVC/Le comité d'organisation, “Toutes et tous ensemble à la marche meeting du 26 Mai 2012 contre la vie chère” (leaflet, May 2012).

8. Interview, Ouagadougou, 5 September 2012.

9. Interviews, CCVC member organisations, Banfora, 24 November 2011, Ouagadougou, 3 December 2011, 2 September 2012.

10. World Development Indicators, World Bank website.

11. I am particularly grateful to one anonymous reviewer for making me aware of this aspect.

12. Presidential elections were scheduled for November 2014, but on 31 October, Blaise Compaoré was dismissed after several days of mass protests. By the time of writing, the army commander-in-chief had taken over power transitionally. In principal, elections shall be organised within the coming months.

13. I highly appreciate the clarifying comments by one anonymous reviewer on this point.

14. Interviews, trade unions, Ouagadougou, 10 November 2011; trade unions, human rights and student movements, Bobo-Dioulasso, 25 November 2011.

15. Interviews, student movement, Ouagadougou, 16 November 2011; professional association, Ouagadougou, 19 November 2011; trade unions, Ouagadougou, 19 November 2011, Banfora, 22 November 2011; human rights organisation, Banfora, 24 November 2011; youth organisation, Ouagadougou, 3 December 2011.

16. Interview, trade unions, Ouagadougou, 2 September 2012.

17. Interviews, trade unions, Ouagadougou, 10 November 2011; trade unions, human rights organisation and student movement, Bobo-Dioulasso, 25 November 2011.

18. Interviews, student movement, Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso, 16 and 25 November 2011.

19. Interviews, human rights organisation, Ouagadougou, 16 November 2011; shopkeepers, Banfora, 24 November 2011, Ouagadougou, 2 December 2011; trade unions, Bobo-Dioulasso, 25 November 2011.

Additional information

Biographical note

Bettina Engels is a junior professor in Empirical Conflict Research focusing on sub-Saharan Africa at the Free University of Berlin. Her research focuses on global change and local conflicts, struggles over land and natural resources, contentious politics and sub-Saharan Africa (Western Africa, Horn of Africa).