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Arbiters with guns: the ambiguity of military involvement in civilian disputes in the DR Congo

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 15:08 authored by Maria Eriksson Baaz, Judith Verweijen
Based on extensive field research in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), this article elucidates the logics, processes and readings surrounding certain ‘extra-military’ practices enacted by the Congolese army, namely the processing of various types of disputes between civilians. Exceeding the boundaries of the domain of ‘public security’, such activities are commonly categorised as ‘corruption’. Yet such labelling, founded on a supposed clear-cut public–private divide, obscures the underlying processes and logics, in particular the fact that these practices are located on a blurred public–private spectrum and result from both civilian demand and military imposition. Furthermore, popular readings of military involvement in civilian disputes are highly ambiguous, simultaneously representing it as ‘abnormal’ and ‘harmful’, and normalising it as ‘making sense’ –reflecting the militarised institutional environment and the weakness of civilian authorities in the eastern DR Congo. Strengthening these authorities will be vital for reducing this practice, which has an enkindling effect on the dynamics of conflict and violence.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Third World Quarterly

ISSN

0143-6597

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Issue

5

Volume

35

Page range

803-820

Department affiliated with

  • International Relations Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2018-09-19

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2018-09-19

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2018-09-18

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