War in The Democratic Republic of Congo

Lecture 13

The Logic of War in the Liberal Vision

Deteriorating Economic Conditions Zero-Sum Politics
No Democratic Tradition of Compromise and Power Sharing Politics Becomes a Winner Take All Affair

Conflict in Environment of Economic Deprivation Often Produces War.

Adding Realism
In the Absence of Prosperity and Democracy, Peace Becomes Dependent Upon Characteristics of the International System. The Power Structure of the International System Bipolarity vs. Multipolarity. The Ability of International Organizations to Act as Effective Deterrents to War. Thus, the End of the Cold War May Have Contributed to Warfare in Regions Outside of Western Europe.

 External

African Stability During the Cold War

Colonial Interests and Involvement Superpower Competition

Pan-African
The Organization of African Unity (OAU) Pledge: Respect Colonial Borders Non-interference in Domestic Politics of Other Countries

Result: Relative Stability in Africa. Very Mearsheimer-esque: Cold War Conflict Imposed Stable Borders on African Nations.

Anarchy in Post Cold War Africa

External: Withdrawal of US and Soviet Support Regional: Very Weak Regional Institutions Domestic:
Economic CollapseNegative Per Capita GDP Growth during 1980s and 1990s. Collapse of State Authority and Transitions to New Political Regimes.

Emergence of Pervasive Conflict. Also Very Mearsheimer-esque: End of the Cold War Brings About Resurgent Conflict.

Zaire: The Mobutu Regime

Mobutu and the Kleptocrats, 1960-1990 US Support as Bulwark Against Socialism in Africa. End of Cold War Ends US Financial Support. Economic Collapse
GDP growth negative since 1989, estimated at -8.0 percent in 1992.

Collapse of Political Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu waza Banga, or, The Authority all-conquering warrior who, because of his endurance and
inflexible will to win, will go from conquest to conquest leaving fire in his wake

The Mobutu Effect

700 600

Per Capita Income

U.S. Dollars

500 400 300 200 100 0 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Source: World Bank. World Development Indicators on CD-ROM

War in Zaire
Precipitating Causes Lie in 1994 Rwandan Conflict. Refugees and Hutu Extremists in Zaire. Rwanda and Uganda join Forces with Zairian Tutsis to Overthrow Mobutu

 Install Laurent Kabila as President of Democratic Republic of Congo. Kabila Alienates Domestic Support, and Does Not Control Hutu Extremists. Rwanda and Uganda Begin to Support Congolese Union for Democracy (RCD) Against Kabila.

Laurent Kabila

 Angola Supports Kabila.

Involved in Civil War with UNITA Mobutu had supported UNITA, thus Angolan Government Supports Kabila and UNITA supports the RCD

 Namibia: Allied with Angola, thus Fighting in support of Kabila. Zimbabwe: Rivalry with Rwanda and Uganda, thus Fighting in support of Kabila

700,000 Refugees 2 Million Dead (?) Ceasefire, July 1999 UN Peacekeepers Put in Place (5,537) Fighting Continues January 2001, Kabila Assassinated by Bodyguard Kabilas Son Installed as President

The Role of the UN

During the War, Role Restricted to Humanitarian Aid Since the War, Involved in Peacekeeping and Peacemaking Implications for Liberal Vision?

Bigger Point 1
Collapse of the Cold War Created Anarchic Environment in Large Parts of Africa. Lack Effective Regional Institutions. Conducive to Balance of Power Politics. Increasing Importance of the United Nations.

Bigger Point 2
Mearsheimer Right, but for the Wrong Continent? In the Absence of the Liberal Conditions
Prosperity Representative Democracy Institutions

The End of the Cold War has Ushered in a Period of Anarchy in African Politics. Peace Appears to Depend Upon Ability of UN to Act as Effective Deterrent.