Commercial Law Reform in Africa: a Means of Socio-economic Development, But for Whom? Perspective of Women Entrepreneurs in Benin

This thesis explores the interactions between French and foreign influenced formal commercial law in the Republic of Benin and women's on-the-ground business practices. It uses a comparative, historical and inter-disciplinary and empirical methodology (Clinical legal pluralism). It contributes to the debate on the relationship between law and socio-economic development in African States where formal law is modeled on that of their former colonizing power.;The dissertation looks at the evolution of business law and of economic activity in the region from pre-colonial times to present where OHADA Uniform Acts ("Acts") largely inspired by French and foreign law constitute Beninese formal commercial law's primary source.;The thesis then examines elements of businesswomen's socio-cultural realities and economic practices in the region to assess the extent to which they are accounted for in formal law. The analysis reveals the considerable gap that continues to exist between the Western-inspired Acts and the realities and modes of Beninese women entrepreneurs.;While the OHADA regime may benefit French and other foreign companies that contribute to the region's economic vitality to varying extents, the difficult appropriation and access by a majority of citizens and enterprises in Benin to OHADA laws prevent Beninese (in particular female) small and medium enterprises from playing a greater role in the socio-economic development of their countries.;The dissertation suggests that the paradigms and methods currently used by OHADA and international organizations such as the World Bank in their law reform activities do not take appropriate account of economic, social and cultural realities of the regions where the new law is to be implemented. These include gender issues in business practices. It argues that commercial law reformers should recognise the central role of citizens in creating the law.;Finally, it outlines an analytical framework for applying these objectives so as to empower citizens in Benin as lawmakers. This framework will integrate some of existing law reform paradigms with additional ones focused on the identity of legal actors in the region (banks, small, medium and large entrepreneurs, micro-credit institutions, financiers, etc.), the dynamics between them, the role of women in business and alternative legal reform methods based on bottom-up approaches to law.