The Resource Curse: A Look into the Implications of an Abundance of Natural Resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

This paper’s purpose was to look at why the Democratic Republic of the Congo faces consistent economic and political instability despite having an abundance of natural resources. The goal was to connect the economic instability and overall downfall of the Congolese government with the notion of the resource curse which focuses on the concept that countries who have an abundance of natural resources tend to have less economic growth and experience more conflict. This has been done by examining the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s past of colonization as well as its current issues such as conflicts within and near its borders, exploitation perpetrated by neighboring countries and rebel groups, international influence and the corruption that exists from within its own government. The analysis of those factors suggests that there was a noticeable connection between the instability within the country and its natural resource wealth.