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Staging a “Revolution”: The 2011–12 Electoral Protests in Senegal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 December 2016

Abstract:

This paper advances a resource mobilization perspective on the 2011–12 electoral protests in Senegal based on social movement theory. Motivational explanations, in the form of grievance accounts, have already been used to explain successful protest mobilization in this case. Here the emphasis is placed on organizational efforts and the financial and human resources behind social movements. Using this approach to analyze the rise and fall of the social movement created to protest against President Abdoulaye Wade reveals its strategic role for opposition parties and their leaders. These findings add nuance to the perception of a democratic revolution in Senegal.

Résumé:

Cet article avance une perspective de mobilisation des ressources sur les manifestations électorales de 2011-12 au Sénégal basée sur la théorie du mouvement social. Explications motivationnelles, sous la forme de comptes de règlement des griefs, ont déjà été utilisées pour expliquer dans ce cas la mobilisation réussie de protestation. Ce papier met l’accent sur les efforts d’organisation et les ressources financières et humaines derrière les mouvements sociaux. En utilisant cette approche pour analyser la croissance et le déclin du mouvement social créé pour protester contre le Président Wade, son rôle stratégique aux partis d’opposition et leurs dirigeants se révèle. Ces constatations nuance la perception d’une révolution démocratique au Sénégal.

Type
ARTICLES
Copyright
Copyright © African Studies Association 2016 

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