A Brief History of Resistance to Structural Adjustment
by George Caffentzis and Silvia Federici
from the book
Democratizing the Global Economy
Kevin Danaher - editor
Common Courage Press 2001
In the dozens of countries where the International Monetary
Fund and World Bank have imposed Structural Adjustment Programs
(SAPs), people have not been passive when they experience deterioration
in their standards of living, reduced access to public services,
devastated environments, and plummeting employment prospects.
The pages of newspapers, magazines, and academic journals (those
that can survive in depressed economies) have been filled with
damning analysis of structural adjustment. More importantly, people
have been organizing to combat the pillaging of their lands and
livelihoods. This organizing has resulted in mass movements and
protests on every continent, but they are not often reported in
the mainstream press. A selection of notable struggles in the
last 20 years of fighting structural adjustment follows.
ALGERIA
October 1988: More than 200 people are killed in rioting against
high prices and unemployment in wake of SAP.
BENIN
January-June 1989: Students at the University of Cotonou go
on strike, paralyzing the institution for six months, in protest
of nonpayment of grants for several months and the government's
intention to stop paying them altogether in 1989 as part of SAP
reforms. Teachers strike begins in April, with demands for payment
of four months' salary arrears, the withdrawal of the 50 percent
reduction in their salaries (part of IMF mandates), the unconditional
liberation of all teachers, pupils, and students held during the
strike and the reintegration of 401 teachers dismissed in March
for striking.
BOLIVIA
March 1985: A general strike is called by labor unions, with
the support of many agricultural workers, against government's
sharp increase in food and gasoline prices as part of its IMF-designed
SAP. Troops and riot police are called out. Unions accept government's
offer to increase basic minimum wage by more than four-fold along
with other wage increases.
April 2000: Mass protests against World Bank-inspired plans
by the Bolivian government to privatize water supplies; at least
seven protesters are killed by police. Government eventually backs
down on privatization plan.
September-October 2000: Widespread rebellion by small farmers-who
feel the government is corrupt and is ignoring the rural population-is
met by government repression: more than ten people are killed
and dozens are wounded by police and military. Government of President
Hugo Banzer eventually makes concessions in an attempt to quell
the persistent rebellion.
ECUADOR
March 1987: Students in Quito clash with riot policemen during
protests against government's SAP.
October 1987: Workers in Ecuador firebomb a bank and block
streets with tires during one-day general strike against SAP.
June-August 1999: A broad coalition of civil society organizations,
led by indigenous peasants, rise up to demand the curtailment
of austerity measures imposed after the IMF's emergency interventions
in the wake of weather catastrophes, further destabilizing the
government.
January 2000: Indigenous people march on Quito to demand an
end to austerity programs and more responsive government. After
taking over the parliament building and allying with key members
of the military, the indigenous organizations succeed in forcing
the resignation of President Jamil Mahuad. Betrayal by the head
of the armed forces leads to the vice-president taking over leadership
rather than a government of national reconciliation.
JAMAICA
January 1985: Demonstrators across the country protest the
government's decision to raise fuel prices in accordance with
an SAP that began with a 1982 World Bank loan that was renegotiated
in November 1984.
JORDAN
April 1989: Riots over increased food prices erupt throughout
southern Jordan shortly after announcement of SAP agreed to with
IMF. At least five protesters are killed by police.
August 1996: Riots break out in Karak and other southern cities
after IMF demands removal of subsidies, resulting in tripling
of price of bread. King suspends Parliament when it refuses to
support price hikes. Protesters also target Ministry of Education
because of hike in school fees connected with IMF program.
MEXICO
January 1994: Zapatista Army of National Liberation begins
insurrection against NAFTA and SAP-style policies of the PRI government.
The insurrection destabilizes the government and these policies.
NIGER
February 1990: Students at University of Niamey boycott classes
to protest adoption of reductions in educational funding mandated
by SAP. During the course of a peaceful demonstration police fire
on demonstrators killing three (according to official police sources)
or 14 (according to student leaders). Many others are wounded.
NIGERIA
May 1986: Roughly twenty students and bystanders at Ahmadu
Bello University (ABU) in Zaria are massacred by security forces
after staging peaceful protests over impending introduction of
SAP. More students are killed in protests against SAP and the
ABU massacre during the following days at Kaduna Polytechnic,
the University of Benin, and the University of Lagos.
April 1988: Students demonstrate at 33 universities against
fuel price increase demanded by IMF-inspired SAP.
May-June 1989: Dozens of people are killed and hundreds are
arrested in riots and strikes against SAP in Lagos, Benin City,
and Port Harcourt. Government is forced to offer a welfare program
called an "SAP Relief Package," the establishment of
a mass transit scheme and a "People's Bank," and a review
of the minimum wage.
March-May 1990: Students and faculty on campuses nationwide
protest government's decision to accept a $150 million university
restructuring loan from the World Bank, especially conditions
requiring closure of many departments and programs. The military
government stages armed assaults and hundreds of arrests, with
hundreds more expelled from the university system. May 1992: Students
at Universities of Ibadan and Lagos protest against implementation
of SAP, which they accuse of being responsible for the deterioration
of campus facilities and education programs as well as the doubling
of transport prices. Police respond by shooting demonstrators,
wounding at least five. Battles between young antigovernment demonstrators
and police in Lagos leave at least three dead and hundreds injured.
The IMF and World Bank made the removal of subsidies and probable
increase of the price of gasoline the main imperative in its negotiations
with the Nigerian government.
PARAGUAY
June 1999: A 48-hour general strike is called on June 22 in
response to the government's plans to privatize its telephone,
water, and railroad companies. The privatizations are conditions
of an IMF program that Paraguay must meet in order to access $400
million in World Bank loans. Police meet the protesters with violence
almost immediately, resulting in 20 injuries and at least 10 arrests.
About 300 protesters in Fernando de la Mora are dispersed by police
with water cannons.
RUSSIA
December 1993: Coalition of parties opposed to the neoliberal
reform (SAP) measures of the Yeltsin government win a majority
in parliamentary elections.
SUDAN
October-November 1987: Steep currency devaluation and price
hikes resulting from arrangements with both the IMF and World
Bank lead to demonstrations by about 15,000 in Khartoum to denounce
the IMF. Students at the University of Khartoum occupy buildings,
leading to eventual closure of the institution. Street violence
and arrests follow.
TRINIDAD
July 28-August 2, 1990: The Society of Muslims assaults government
headquarters and takes President Robinson and other members of
the cabinet hostage, demanding an end to IMF-imposed economic
austerity measures. Riots and looting follow the assault in Port
of Spain; at least 50 people are killed.
UGANDA
December 1990: Students at Makerere University protest the
government for cutting stationery and travel allowances arising
from a World Bank-imposed SAP. Police fire into a crowd of protesting
students, killing two.
VENEZUELA
February 28-March 2,1989: About 600 people are killed and
more than 1,000 are wounded in rioting over economic measures,
including sharp increases in fuel and public transport prices,
imposed to satisfy the IMF and World Bank. President Perez, as
one of his first acts in office, signed a letter of intent with
the IMF putting into place an SAP on February 23.
February 1992: Coup attempt by middle-level military officers-
widely supported by the population-fails. The economic goal of
the coup's protagonists was the end of Venezuela's SAP. Leader
of the coup attempt, Hugo Chavez, is elected President in 1999.
ZAIRE (now DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO)
March 1985: Students at Mbanza Ngungu and Mbuji Mai Universities
criticize cuts in higher education budget adopted by the government
in compliance with IMF's SAP.
ZAMBIA
January-February 1987: Food price riots in the northern copper
mining district in response to an SAP announced in December 1986
eventually lead to program's suspension.
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