Explaining conflicts in DR Congo from infrastructure perspective

For more than twenty years the Democratic Republic of Congo has been experiencing bloody conflicts which have resulted in millions of deaths. The intervention of international community had a limited success and violence continues to date. Despite abundance of academic literature related to the theme, there are very few papers which employ quantitative research to explain this violence. Furthermore, there has not been any research which illustrated conflicts in the country from the perspective of what is called infrastructural violence. The article aims to fill this gap and prove that infrastructural deficiencies are among the primary contributors to the violence in the DRC. The paper employs results of quantitative research and personal experiences of the author (three years as part of the UN mission in the country) to support its theoretical assumptions. The article might be very informative and helpful for the personnel of international organizations, the DRC Government and its donors. It might also be interesting for a broad circle of researchers from such areas as African, conflict and peace studies.

Keywords

DRC, Congo, conflict, violence, infrastructure

Publication date

10.08.2019

Number of characters

28276

Cite

GOST	Kirillov E. Explaining conflicts in DR Congo from infrastructure perspective // Asia and Africa Today – 2019. – Issue 8 C. 43-52 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://asaf-today.ru/S032150750005779-8-1 (circulation date: 10.09.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S032150750005779-8
MLA	Kirillov, Evgenii N "Explaining conflicts in DR Congo from infrastructure perspective." Asia and Africa Today 8 (2019):43-52. DOI: 10.31857/S032150750005779-8
APA	Kirillov E. (2019). Explaining conflicts in DR Congo from infrastructure perspective. Asia and Africa Today (8), pp.43-52 DOI: 10.31857/S032150750005779-8

100 rub.

When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 2, views: 2780

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. Bavier J. Congo war-driven crisis kills 45,000 a month: study // Reuters, 22.1.2007 - https://www.reuters.com/ article/us-congo-democratic-death/congo-war-driven-crisis-kills-45000-a-month-study-idUSL2280201220080122 (accessed 21.02.2019)

2. Cellule d’Analyses des Indicateurs de Developpement, the Government of the DRS - https://www.caid.cd (accessed 03.03.2019)

3. Clowes W. Displaced Congolese civilians sent back to a widening war // Irinnews, 11.07.2017 - http://www.irinnews.org/feature/2017/07/11/displaced-congolese-civilians-sent-back-widening-war (accessed 11.03.2019)

4. Detges A. Local conditions of drought-related violence in sub-Saharan Africa: The role of road and water infrastructures // Journal of Peace Research, 2016, 53:5, pp. 696-710.

5. Englebert P., Mungongo E.K. Misguided and Misdiagnosed: The Failure of Decentralization Reforms in the DR Congo // African Studies Review, 2016, 59:1, pp. 5-32.

6. Geenen S., Claessens K. Disputed access to the gold sites in Luhwindja, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo // Journal of Modern African Studies, 2013, 51:1, pp. 85-108.

7. Gobbers E. Ethnic associations in Katanga province, the Democratic Republic of Congo: multi-tier system, shifting identities and the relativity of autochthony // Journal of Modern African Studies 2016, 54:2, pp. 211-236.

8. Hale A.Z. In Search of Peace: an Autopsy of the Political Dimensions of Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo // University of Florida, 2009.

9. Herderschee J., Kaiser K.-A., Mukoko D. Resilience of an African Giant: Boosting Growth and Development in the Democratic Republic of Congo // The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank, 2012.

10. Heinsohn G., Weltmacht S: Terror im Aufstieg und Fall der Nationen // Zurich: Orell Fussli, 2003.

11. ICRC - Stricken by communal violence and malnutrition in Tanganyika, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 3.1.2018 - https://www.icrc.org/en/document/democratic-republic-congo-communal-violence-malnutrition-tanganyika (accessed 13.03.2019)

12. Jackson S. Sons of Which Soil? The Language and Politics of Autochthony in Eastern D.R. Congo // African Studies Review, 2006, 49:2, pp. 95-123.

13. Ndikumana L., Kisangani E., Kalonda-Kanyama I. Conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Causes, impact and implications for the Great Lakes region // United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, 2015, pp. 1-112.

14. RDC - Rapport Annuel d’Activites // Office des Routes, Kinshasa: Gombe, 2012.

15. Simons C. Power-sharing in Africa’s war zones: how important is the local level? // Journal of Modern African Studies, 2013, 51:4, pp. 681-706.

16. Tull D.M. Troubled state-building in the DR Congo: the challenge from the margins // Journal of Modern African Studies, 2010, 48:4, pp. 643-661.

17. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs: World Population Prospects: The 2017 Revision - https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/DataQuery/ (accessed 03.01.2019)

18. Uppsala Conflict Data Program: Methodology - http://pcr.uu.se/research/ucdp/methodology/ (accessed 11.02.2019)

19. VOA - UN Investigator: Atrocities in DRC Fall Short of Genocide, 3.8.2018 - https://www.voanews.com/a/uninvestigator-atrocities-in-drc-fall-short-of-genocide/4512694.html (accessed 10.02.2019)

20. Waters T. The Persistence of Subsistence Agriculture: life beneath the level of the marketplace // Lexington Books, 2007.