Security and Governance in the Great Lakes Region: An Introduction

Abstract

Khadiagala’s introductory chapter provides a critical overview of the major issues and themes that have animated scholarly and policy debates on security and governance in the Great Lakes region since the 1990s. Following the convulsions occasioned by Rwanda’s genocide and the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, there were various regional and international efforts to promote peacebuilding and stabilisation across the region. This chapter suggests that despite some achievements in ending conflicts and strengthening governance, these initiatives have in recent years been stymied by the resurgence of authoritarian political practices, social and economic exclusion, and the slow evolution of regional institutions for security and governance. This chapter also summarises the core arguments from each of the seven main chapters in this book.