BONNECASE Vincent

Vincent Bonnecase is a CNRS Research Director (section 40, Political Science) and member of the Institute of African Worlds (IMAF) in Aubervilliers, France. His work bridges political science and history, focusing on West Africa, particularly Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, and Ivory Coast. He is a leading scholar in the study of poverty, famine, economic injustice, and social mobilization in the Sahel.

Education & Career:

• 2008 – PhD in History, “Poverty in the Sahel. A history of measuring living standards”
• 2018 – HDR in Political Science
• 2011 – Recruited as Researcher at CNRS Section 40
• 2019–present – Member, Institute of African Worlds (IMAF)
• 2018–2021 – Co-editor-in-chief, Politique africaine

Research Interests:

Bonnecase’s research explores the intersection of economic hardship and political expression. He investigates how ordinary people experience and respond to rising prices, poverty, and inequality. His work delves into the moral economies of food, the politics of measurement, and the historical construction of poverty knowledge. He also examines how colonial and post-colonial states have governed famine and social unrest.

Publications & Themes:

His recent monographs include The High Cost of Living. From Africa to Europe: When Anger Is Expressed Through Prices (2023), The Prices of Anger. A History of the High Cost of Living in Burkina Faso (2019), and Poverty in the Sahel. From colonial knowledge to international measurement (2011). These works trace how economic discontent becomes politicized and how local grievances shape broader social movements.

Editorial & Academic Service:

• Co-editor-in-chief, Politique africaine (2018–2021)
• Editorial board member, Politique africaine (2011–2021)
• Member of editorial teams for special journal issues on African social science and protest