The transformation process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the most crucial political changes during the last few years. Creatin a stabile and strong democratic system within the biggest African countries could bring light an development in the former "heart of darknes" which could also be extendet to other african states. the following paper tries to describe the sad story of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, concentrating on the Mobutu dictatureship and the transition and state building process afterwards. furthermore is is about the EUFOR RD Congo military mission that should support the transformation process, protecting the presidential elections in 2006. What about the leading nation Germany? Was it difficult to legislate the mission, for a state with such a heavy historical burden? what about meanings and opinions in German parlament, the federal army and of course the German people?
After the history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the text is focussed on the elections in 2006, the EU mission and the debat in Germany concerning military aid for this big african country. in the end the paper shows details and developments of EUFOR RD Congo mission, whereby it also tries to analyze whether the mission was a success or failure. The conclusion tries to answer the succces or failure thesisas well as it oughts to offer an immagine of the transformation process in the democratic Republic of the Congo in the future.
This seminar paper is very interesting for students of political science, history and of cours for everyone who likes to get to know more background about this actual and highly discussed mission.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION: “AFRICA IS BURNING!”
2. HISTORY AND THE RECENT CONFLICT IN THE DRC
2.1 HISTORICAL OVERVIEW FROM INDEPENDENCE TO THE FALL OF MOBUTU
2.2 THE TRANSITION PROCESS 1997-2006
2.3 ABOUT CONSTITUTIONS AND ELECTIONS 2006
3. THE DISCUSSION IN GERMANY
3.1 OPINIONS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
3.2 PROS AND CONS IN THE GERMAN PARLIAMENT
3.2.1 The Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU)
3.2.2 The Social Democratic Party (SPD)
3.2.3 The Liberal Democratic Party (FDP)
3.2.4 The Green Party (Buendnis 90/ Die GRUENEN)
3.2.5 The Socialists (Linkspartei/PDS)
4. THE EUFOR-RD CONGO MISSION LEAD BY GERMANY
4.1 PLANNING AND DESCRIPTIONS
4.2 MISSIONS DEVELOPMENT (2006)
4.3 THE EUFOR-RD CONGO MISSION: SUCCESS OR FAILURE?
5. CONCLUSION: THE CURRENT SITUATION
6. LITERATURE AND ONLINE SOURCES
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the political discourse within Germany regarding its leadership of the EUFOR-RD Congo mission in 2006. It explores how German political actors, the media, and the public navigated the challenges of international military responsibility against the backdrop of Germany's historical and constitutional constraints.
- The historical development of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- The parliamentary debate and party-specific positions on the EUFOR mission.
- German foreign policy axioms and the transition from "checkbook policy" to active military engagement.
- The logistical planning and mission development of EUFOR-RD Congo.
- An evaluation of the mission's success and its impact on the democratic transition in the DRC.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Opinions of the Federal Government
For Germany with its historical burdens – not only World War II but also the short colonial time has to be mentioned – it has always been very difficult to deal with international military missions and development policy. The Federal Republic of Germany pledged to become a peaceful and ingressive state after the incredible horrors of the Drittes Reich dictatorship, thus article 16 of the German Grundgesetz prohibits German military interventions if they are considered aggressive or warlike. For this reason UN, NATO now EU military missions like in Kosovo or later on ISAF in Afghanistan needed long political debates in the German Parliament.
On the one hand the unified and more powerful Germany had to take over international responsibility also in the military sector, but on the other hand great normative doubts concerning the constitution and the country’s past still remained. Ex chancellor Gerhard Schröder for example had to ask for a question of confidence, a constitutional measure of the German executive to accelerate or ensure difficult legislative decisions, to realize the participation of Germany in Afghanistan in 2001. The history of the Federal Republic of Germany shows that is has always become really complicated if the state tried to form or change its strategies of international politics.
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: “AFRICA IS BURNING!”: This chapter introduces the context of the EUFOR-RD Congo mission, highlighting the international plea for support and the role of the EU in securing democratic elections in the DRC.
2. HISTORY AND THE RECENT CONFLICT IN THE DRC: This section details the historical background of the DRC from colonial times through the Mobutu dictatorship to the transition period under the Kabila administration.
3. THE DISCUSSION IN GERMANY: This chapter analyzes the complex political debate in Germany, focusing on the constitutional and moral arguments debated within the federal government and parliament regarding the deployment of troops.
4. THE EUFOR-RD CONGO MISSION LEAD BY GERMANY: This section provides a pragmatic overview of the mission's planning, its operational development in 2006, and an evaluation of its effectiveness in securing the electoral process.
5. CONCLUSION: THE CURRENT SITUATION: The final chapter summarizes the ongoing challenges facing the DRC post-elections and reflects on the broader implications of the mission for European foreign policy.
Keywords
Democratic Republic of the Congo, EUFOR-RD Congo, German Foreign Policy, European Security and Defence Policy, Bundestag, Humanitarian Intervention, Post-Conflict Reconstruction, International Relations, Peacekeeping, Election Observation, Military Engagement, Political Discourse, MONUC, Development Policy, Crisis Management
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the political debate in Germany concerning the country's decision to lead the EUFOR-RD Congo mission in 2006, analyzing the arguments for and against military intervention.
What are the primary themes explored?
Key themes include historical burdens of German foreign policy, parliamentary decision-making processes, the challenges of democratic transition in the DRC, and the role of the EU in international security.
What is the main goal or research question?
The central goal is to understand how the German political establishment reached the decision to command the mission and whether the mission was considered a success by the various political actors involved.
Which scientific or analytical approach is employed?
The author employs a descriptive and analytical approach, synthesizing historical context with contemporary policy briefings and parliamentary records to assess the political climate in Germany.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers the history of the DRC conflict, the specific positions held by various German political parties (CDU, SPD, FDP, Greens, and PDS), and the actual execution of the mission.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Important keywords include EUFOR-RD Congo, German Foreign Policy, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Parliamentary Debate, and International Security.
How did the parliamentary vote reflect the political division regarding the mission?
The vote demonstrated a strong consensus among the government parties (CDU/SPD), while the opposition parties were deeply divided, with the FDP and PDS mostly opposing and the Greens split on ideological grounds.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding the EUFOR mission's success?
The author concludes that from a framework and operational standpoint, the mission successfully met its goals of stabilizing the electoral environment, despite remaining ideological concerns about potential "new imperialism."
- Quote paper
- Stefan Plenk (Author), 2007, The Democratic Republic of the Congo and the debate in Germany concerning EUFOR RD Congo Mission, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/73188
