Prof. Dr. Kai Koddenbrock publishes open-access article "Earnest struggles: structural transformation, government finance and the recurrence of debt crisis in Senegal"

Prof. Dr. Kai Koddenbrock has written "Earnest struggles: structural transformation, government finance and the recurrence of debt crisis in Senegal," an open-access article published in Review of International Political Economy in July 2024.

"This article," the abstract reads, "develops the notion of ‘earnest struggles’ in Senegal’s postcolonial history and shows that successive governments have indeed tried to move their country forward against the odds. The focus is on three struggles: First, the attempts at transforming the Senegalese economy away from colonial cash crops and the influence of the French from 1960 to 1980. Second, the struggle of grappling with Global South debt crisis and the devaluation of the Franc CFA by 50% between 1980 to 2004. Third, the struggle to expand the Senegalese economy with newfound fiscal space and novel forms of external debt since international debt relief in 2004 until today."

Koddenbrock writes on X, "Based on interviews in Dakar and Paris and financial data, I distinguish three eras of earnest struggle to 'overcome' to 'defend' and to 'expand'... The notion of 'earnest struggles' serves to contribute to a more analytical approach to African government action and political economy against facile neo-patrimonialism literature and structural overdetermination... With a progressive government in power the earnest struggles in Senegal intensify today. The postcolonial political economy community and internationalists should pay attention and contribute to analysis and policies of self-determination."

Read the article here.

Post Date: 07-08-2024