The Democratic Republic of Congo: A Closer Look at The Internal Causes of Poverty
Author
Kisonga, Eliane
Term
4. term
Publication year
2023
Submitted on
2023-05-31
Pages
56
Abstract
This thesis examines why the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains deeply poor despite exceptional natural resource wealth. Using three theoretical lenses—colonialism, governance, and the resource curse—it analyzes the internal historical, political, and economic drivers of poverty. It argues that colonial extraction and institutional destruction entrenched underdevelopment; that post‑independence weak institutions enabled corruption, elite capture, and political instability; and that resource abundance concentrated power, fueled conflict, and diverted investment from infrastructure and education. The thesis also reviews the IMF’s 2013 Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) for the DRC, concluding that it fell short due to poor governance, limited institutional capacity, inadequate resources, low investment, and weak monitoring and evaluation. It concludes that sustainable progress depends on addressing historical legacies, strengthening governance and the rule of law, and managing resource revenues transparently for broad-based benefit, with greater priority to social spending, job creation, and inclusive growth, supported by coordinated efforts from government, the private sector, and civil society.
Dette speciale undersøger, hvorfor Den Demokratiske Republik Congo (DRC) fortsat er præget af udbredt fattigdom trods en ekstraordinær rigdom på naturressourcer. Med udgangspunkt i tre teoretiske perspektiver—kolonialisme, governance og ressourceforbandelsen—analyserer afhandlingen de interne historiske, politiske og økonomiske drivkræfter bag fattigdommen. Den argumenterer for, at kolonial udbytning og institutionel undergravning lagde grunden til vedvarende underudvikling; at svage institutioner efter uafhængigheden har muliggjort korruption, eliteskabelse og politisk ustabilitet; og at ressourceoverflod har koncentreret magt, næret konflikt og trukket investeringer væk fra infrastruktur og uddannelse. Afhandlingen gennemgår også IMF’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) fra 2013 for DRC og finder, at indsatsen udeblev fra de tilsigtede resultater på grund af dårlig regeringsførelse, begrænset institutionel kapacitet, utilstrækkelige midler, lav investering samt mangelfuld monitorering og evaluering. Konklusionen er, at bæredygtige fremskridt kræver håndtering af historiske uretfærdigheder, styrket regeringsførelse og retsstat samt en transparent forvaltning af ressourceindtægter til gavn for den brede befolkning, med prioritet til sociale udgifter, jobskabelse og inkluderende vækst, støttet af et samlet engagement fra stat, erhvervsliv og civilsamfund.
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