English

Abstract

In the early days of 2009 the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe witnessed the largest social protest in its history. A general strike was launched by a coalition of 48 different organizations, including labor unions, political parties, civic and cultural associations. The strike, which lasted 44 days, targeted local economic and political disparities. This essay examines the impact of this strike on the political landscape and political future of Guadeloupe. I argue that the strike created a moment of political exploration in which new collective configurations were both invoked and rehearsed.