The Past in the Present: Ethnicity, Conflict and Politics in Eastern Congo
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The Past in the Present : Ethnicity, Conflict and Politics in Eastern Congo. / Hoffmann, Kasper; Muzalia, Godefroid ; Nalunva, Alice; Muhigirwa, César.
Ghent : Ghent University, 2022. 65 p. (Insecure Livelihoods).Research output: Book/Report › Report › Research › peer-review
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TY - RPRT
T1 - The Past in the Present
T2 - Ethnicity, Conflict and Politics in Eastern Congo
AU - Hoffmann, Kasper
AU - Muzalia, Godefroid
AU - Nalunva, Alice
AU - Muhigirwa, César
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Since colonization and throughout the independence period, ethnic iden- tity has played a major role in the politics and conflicts of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This report investigates how issues of ethnic identity intersect with politics and conflicts in eastern Congo, and particularly Kalehe territory and on Idjwi Island, South Kivu Province. It demonstrates that these connections are anchored in long-term historical processes. We make two main points: First, we argue that colonial policies of ethnic territorialization and indirect rule have strongly shaped today’s politics of identity and terri- tory in eastern Congo. We show how colonial policies of ethnic territoriali- zation and indirect rule changed the means and ends of political authority in eastern Congo in profound ways. The overall effect of these policies was that the purpose of political authority gradually pivoted towards the extrac- tion and accumulation of resources, the capture and amassing of authority, and ensuring the support of state authorities. Furthermore, we argue that, in the long run, the idea of ethnic territories came to shape how elites and the masses understood politics and its stakes in Congo, resulting in ideas of ethnic identity and territory becoming more salient in political struggles. Second, we argue that the colonial legacy of resource accumulation, eth- nic territorialization, and the concentration of authority has produced an inequitable and fragmented political order, which is conducive to conflict. As a result, our main recommendation is that a fundamental reckoning with the most destructive legacies of Congo’s colonial legacy – resource extraction, the centralization of authority, and ideas about bounded and homogenous ethnic identities – should be a main priority of the efforts of the people of Congo to establish a sustainable political order.
AB - Since colonization and throughout the independence period, ethnic iden- tity has played a major role in the politics and conflicts of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This report investigates how issues of ethnic identity intersect with politics and conflicts in eastern Congo, and particularly Kalehe territory and on Idjwi Island, South Kivu Province. It demonstrates that these connections are anchored in long-term historical processes. We make two main points: First, we argue that colonial policies of ethnic territorialization and indirect rule have strongly shaped today’s politics of identity and terri- tory in eastern Congo. We show how colonial policies of ethnic territoriali- zation and indirect rule changed the means and ends of political authority in eastern Congo in profound ways. The overall effect of these policies was that the purpose of political authority gradually pivoted towards the extrac- tion and accumulation of resources, the capture and amassing of authority, and ensuring the support of state authorities. Furthermore, we argue that, in the long run, the idea of ethnic territories came to shape how elites and the masses understood politics and its stakes in Congo, resulting in ideas of ethnic identity and territory becoming more salient in political struggles. Second, we argue that the colonial legacy of resource accumulation, eth- nic territorialization, and the concentration of authority has produced an inequitable and fragmented political order, which is conducive to conflict. As a result, our main recommendation is that a fundamental reckoning with the most destructive legacies of Congo’s colonial legacy – resource extraction, the centralization of authority, and ideas about bounded and homogenous ethnic identities – should be a main priority of the efforts of the people of Congo to establish a sustainable political order.
M3 - Report
T3 - Insecure Livelihoods
BT - The Past in the Present
PB - Ghent University
CY - Ghent
ER -
ID: 305243472