Beyond minerals: broadening ‘economies of violence’ in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

This paper expands current understandings on resource wars by arguing for a comprehensive 'economies of violence' that considers the wider range of activities that rebel groups are engaged in beyond minerals. Using evidence from fieldwork in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo together with recent scholarship, this paper draws on six secondary economies to construct a broader political economy of Congo's divergent natural-resource wealth. It then considers how the engagement of armed groups in these activities creates opportunities, alternative livelihoods and governance structures, as well as new forms of conflict, and what these processes may hold for the future of the region.[Au-delà des minéraux : l'extension des 'économies de violence' dans l'est de la République Démocratique du Congo]. Cette étude développe les recherches actuelles sur les guerres des ressources en argumentant en faveur d'une prise en compte des 'économies de violence' qui comprennent la plus large gamme d'activités dans lesquelles les groupes de rebelles se sont engagés, au-delà de l'extraction des minéraux. En utilisant les résultats des recherches sur le terrain dans l'est de la RDC et les recherches récentes, cette étude décrit six économies secondaires pour représenter une économie politique plus large de la richesse divergente des ressources minérales du Congo. Cette étude examine ensuite comment l'engagement des groupes armés dans ces activités crée des opportunités, des modes de subsistance alternatifs et des structures de gouvernance, ainsi que de nouvelles formes de conflits et ce que ces processus peuvent impliquer pour l'avenir de la région.

More Legislation, More Violence? The Impact of Dodd-Frank in the DRC

“…These armed actors, including both Congolese and foreign rebel groups as well as the Congolese army (FARDC), mostly profit from artisanal mining through illegal taxation, but are also known to engage in mineral trade, to monopolize the sale of certain commodities (e.g. beer, cigarettes or palm oil), force artisanal miners to work for them, or resort to looting and pillaging [10,20,23,35].…”

Social Change, Network Formation and Syria's War Economies

“…In contrast to this model, others have proposed that our understanding of war economies be expanded to focus on the range of activities of armed groups that form the economies of violence central to their reproduction. Drawing on the DRC, Laudati 9 argues that a comprehensive, broader political economy of conflict in the DRC needs to account for "secondary economies." The six secondary economies he identifies are roadblock taxes, civilian taxes, rent-seeking on the trade of timber and hemp, theft of livestock, looting and pillaging, and the control of labor.…”

Everyday Resistance, Peacebuilding and State-making : Insights from 'Africa's World War'

“…These practical ways create their own routines that knit together how public administration, services and norms work (De Herdt and de Sardan 2015;Meagher 2012;Meagher, De Herdt, and Titeca 2014;Raeymaekers 2014). These approaches in the Africanist literature offer an analysis of hybrid institutions and routines that enable regulations and norms by state and non-state actors alike (Laudati 2013;Seay 2013;de Sardan 2012;Leinweber 2012;Titeca and De Herdt 2011). In a different way, this book concentrates on practices that define state-making more generally and where resistance is rooted.…”