Electoral authoritarianism and political fragmentation in the Great Lakes region breed a shrinking political space and human rights abuses are themselves causes for concern. But there are also wider implications. First, regimes between democracy and autocracy have been found to be especially conflict — prone. It would be dangerous if the countries of the region got stuck in this hybrid state. But increasing authoritarianism can hardly be the answer to this problem, since armed conflict in all countries has been linked strongly to a history of exclusion under different autocratic regimes.
- Required: Examine the assertion that the absence of inclusive political structures is responsible for the conflicts in the GLRA (400 words)
- What would you do as a political leader of the DRC to do away with conflicts caused by political exclusion? (600 words)
