War in the east of the DRC

The armed conflict in eastern DRC remains one of the most complex on the continent. It involves a diversity of actors: armed groups neighboring states multinationals and the civilian population. The realist perspective highlights power struggles geopolitical rivalries and security interests linked to the control of natural resources. Liberalism on the other hand explores the possibilities of cooperation the importance of regional and international institutions and the role of governance law and trade as instruments of pacification.Lastly the constructivist reading emphasizes the weight of identities discourses perceptions and historical narratives in the maintenance of conflict. It sheds light on the symbolic and social dimensions of violence.