ABSTRACT
The economic policies espoused under the banner of Marxism brought Benin's weak economy very rapidly to its knees, threatening the livelihood of everyone in both the modern economy and in the informal sector. Factors particular to Benin precluded a ruthless attempt by Mathieu Kerekou to retain power, as Eyadema did in Lome, and hence a smooth transition to civilian rule was assured in Cotonou, giving democracy a chance to emerge and possibly to survive. The events in Cotonou can be seen as the revenge, or triumph, of Benin's long-suffering civil society against their prime tormentor—the predatory state. In like manner much of Benins large intelligentsia was ranged against the Kerekou regime. To tackle the massive national crisis Kerekou had no choice but to convene a conference in which all societal strata were represented, including political enemies in voluntary exile. The conference, broadcast live over radio and television, lashed out at the brutality, venality, and corruption of Kerekou's seventeen-year military reign.
