| | Student's have been hard hit by IMF-WB policies in Mali. They have also been portrayed as a violent group and a negative influence on Malian democracy. This article looks at the evolution of recent student protest and the internal politics of the Association des Eléves et étudiants du Mali, The Association of Students and Pupils of Mali (AEEM), in order to provide a clearer picture of the students and their grievances and to demonstrate that the AEEM has pursued a tactical transformation. The author concludes that a strong AEEM is a potentially healthy part of Mali's civil society and a vital component of Malian democracy. This is because the student movement articulates the interest of its constituents effectively. If their political strength happens to contradict the adjustment policies of multi-lateral lenders, this is no reason to conclude that they are ipso facto an anti-democratic force. |
