Kvinder, markedspladserog lokalpolitik i Benin. Businesskvinder, markedskvinders organisationer og politisk kultur.

The aim of the research is to investigate how market women’s associations in Benin’s informal sector organise to secure rights and livelihoods of female traders in a situation of democratisation, decentralisation and growing public regulation of the central market places. Moreover, the research will examine how market women’s associations have sought and seek influence on urban governance - their political agendas and strategies. The project focuses on political dynamics linked to the management of the Dantokpa marketplace in Cotonou, where female traders traditionally dominate the informal sector and women’s associations wield political influence. The research project is situated in the juncture between political organisations, governance and private entrepreneurship. Benin with its vibrant informal economy is an excellent place to study the political agency of market women’s associations, their organisation, agendas and political culture. The theoretical challenge of the research is to rethink the concepts of neo-patrimonialism  and political clientelism drawing on the discussions of ‘clientelism’ and ‘citizenship’ in the Latin American context.The aim of the research is to investigate how market women’s associations in Benin’s informal sector organise to secure rights and livelihoods of female traders in a situation of democratisation, decentralisation and growing public regulation of the central market places. Moreover, the research will examine how market women’s associations have sought and seek influence on urban governance - their political agendas and strategies. The project focuses on political dynamics linked to the management of the Dantokpa marketplace in Cotonou, where female traders traditionally dominate the informal sector and women’s associations wield political influence. The research project is situated in the juncture between political organisations, governance and private entrepreneurship. Benin with its vibrant informal economy is an excellent place to study the political agency of market women’s associations, their organisation, agendas and political culture. The theoretical challenge of the research is to rethink the concepts of neo-patrimonialism  and political clientelism drawing on the discussions of ‘clientelism’ and ‘citizenship’ in the Latin American context.