Burkina Faso 1983–1987: A Voluntarist Revolution. Retrospective and Legacy

This paper examines a key period in the history of the West African state of Burkina Faso: the social revolution orchestrated by President Thomas Isidore Noel Sankara and his National Council for the Revolution (CNR) in 1983–1987. That was a remarkable historical episode, which is being actively re-examined now as a key moment in the modern history of Burkina Faso. The article focuses on both the domestic and foreign policies of Thomas Sankara and his government, as well as the impact his leadership has had on domestic political culture. It takes a critical, to a certain extent, view on the Sankarist regime, interpreting it more as populist-voluntarist rather than a leftist one, challenged by numerous problems it was incapable of solving. Amongst these problems were some arbitrary actions of the local revolution committees, an institutional fragility of the new regime, and the rapid cooling of the initial public enthusiasm. The achievements of Sankara’s government are also noted in the paper, such as its fight against illiteracy and tribalism, infrastructure development, environmental campaigns, and attempts to build an egalitarian state. Regarding the country’s foreign policy, the paper examines the relations of Burkina Faso with its major partners, such as Cuba, Ghana, Libya, North Korea, and the USSR, and analyzes the global context of the emergence and downfall of the Sankarist regime. The paper concludes by emphasizing the unique nature of Burkina Faso’s experience of modernization. At the same time, it also notes the political immaturity of Thomas Sankara’s team and the extremely complex global environment, against the backdrop of which the Sankarist regime was not able to find itself a solid foothold in the country.