Economists for Peace and Security

The Economics of Peace and Security Journal

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A publication by Economists for Peace and Security

Are Congo's mines the main target of the armed groups on its soil?
Steven Spittaels and Filip Hilgert

Vol 4, No 1 - Symposia on Defense innovation | Conflict theory and micro-level analysis, January 2009

The authors have developed a qualitative geographic research tool for case studies of conflict areas. They believe it can furnish convincing evidence on war motivation. They have used the tool to analyze concrete military actions and decisions and to trace them back to what provoked them. They have applied it to the conflict situation in the DR Congo between August 2007 and January 2008. In this article special attention is given to the role of natural resources in the armed conflict. Its importance as a war motivation factor is compared to three other conflict drivers found in the literature on the causes of war. [Keywords: Democratic Republic of Congo, Kivu, conflict, Mining, natural resources. JEL code: Q34]

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