Abstract:
The geo-strategic position of central Africa, the immense wealth and the cyclical intra- and inter-state conflicts and wars that have characterised the region, provide the context of this study. The project arose from dissatisfaction with existing conflict analysis frameworks which dwell mainly on root causes. Without focusing on agency, these provide inadequate explanations for the prolongation of conflicts in the Great Lakes region. The research tests an overarching hypothesis that actor interests, strategies and interactions determine whether a conflict grows, lingers or is terminated. The study identifies major obstacles to peace initiatives and suggests ways of getting around them.
