Here’s to Peace! Governance Contributions by Companies in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in central Africa have experienced some of the most brutal wars in recent history. The interconnected dynamics of recent violence in these countries is closely associated with the economic dimensions of war. Businesses have played a highly destructive role in financing, prolonging and enabling the war in the DRC. However, some corporations present in these countries pursue business interests that are unrelated to the conflict dynamics. They have the same interest in a peaceful operating environment as most businesses anywhere else in the world. Neither management studies, peace and conflict research, nor political science research have so far paid much attention to these kinds of corporations in conflict zones.