The international community in the Togolese political game

For Togo, the 1990s was a period of great change, especially at the institutional level. After a long period of one-party rule, the country began its democratic transformation under the watchful eye of the international community. The international community seems to have tuned its violins to sing the praises of the liberal democracy that triumphed during the Cold War. The democratic ideal then becomes an imperative towards which all countries must henceforth strive. The Togolese regime will see the very basis of its power shaken by both endogenous and exogenous pressures. The international community will thus be called upon to play a leading role in the new configuration of the political game that is emerging. It will thus appear to be a challenge for political entrepreneurs in the conquest and exercise of power in view of the role it is accustomed to playing in the resolution of political crises and in periods of popular consultation. Above all, however, the seemingly philanthropic nature of the international community must not cause us to lose sight of the often veiled interests that underlie its actions.