Jeunesse comme ressource des conflits violents: une lecture historique et anthropologique de l'arène politique en République centrafricaine

Mouguia, C.M. (2023)

Doctoral Thesis

The history of the Central African Republic (CAR) has been one of persistent violence, despite internal and external attempts to break the cycle of misfortune in the country. A number of factors are cited as determinants or amplifiers to explain this ever-renewed cycle of violence in the country, including a disastrous colonial legacy, poor governance, an abundance of natural resources in an uncontrolled territory, greed for power, the collapse of the state, or a combination of all or some of these non-exhaustive factors. However, over and above these not insignificant factors, we need to reconsider the weight of history and the role of young people as constants in the recurrent conflict in the Central African Republic. To explain the durability of this context of instability inscribed in a continuum, we propose the concept of the political arena, a situation of confrontation built up over the course of history, and within which a large number of young people are growing up with a limited agency. We conclude that young people in the CAR have ultimately become a usable resource, having been exploited in the same way as natural resources since pre-colonial and colonial times. Hence the reproduction and/or continuation of violent and recurrent conflicts in the Central African Republic.

• Central African Republic
• Political arena
• Violent conflicts
• Youth
• Agency
• Resource

• All authors: Mouguia, C.M.
• Supervisor: Bruijn, M.E. de
• Co-supervisor: Both, J.C.
• Committee: Pargas, D.A.; Mogba, Z.J.R.; Mous, M.P.G.M.; Berckmoes, L.H.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Institute for History, Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University
• Date: 2023-11-22