Religious beliefs, modern politics and conflict resolution in The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

这一博士学位项目旨在调查宗教信仰(非洲传统宗教(ATR)、对上帝和灵魂的恐惧、现代非洲形式的基督教和其他超自然主义)与刚果民主共和国现代政治之间的相互作用，及其在现代和平进程中的意义、影响和地位。该项目将探讨宗教信仰在现代政治进程和政治解决中的作用。以及是否在国际和平调解的概念方法和理论方针、和平进程的设计和缔造和平努力以及在解决冲突领域中得到承认和使用。许多社会和政治学家(Mbiti，2010；Kagema，2015；Daniel，2010)认为，虽然ATR和其他现代形式的宗教信仰是当地文化特性的重要特征，但它们往往被破坏、边缘化、忽视或贴上过时、原始、落后和非理性的标签。该项目将探讨这一特点在多大程度上扼杀了冲突后和平与和解谈判中可持续成果的具体实现。该项目源于我在2012/2013年在刚果民主共和国促进多轨调解1的个人经验。我与伍德罗·威尔逊中心和鲁昂大学(法国)的国际政治和平调解人合作，观察了冲突调解的各种方法和途径的结合，并有机会共同调解涉及一名副总统、高级军官、一些参议员和私营部门几名高级行政人员的族裔内部冲突。这一进程始于与冲突中的个别当事方进行直接谈判，事实证明是成功的。然后是直接和间接地与冲突各方接触，利用哈佛方法启动对话，更深入地研究各方的根本利益和要求，并激发我对谈判和冲突解决的进一步研究的兴趣。

This doctorate project seeks to investigate the interplay between religious beliefs (the AfricanTraditional Religions (ATR), fear of God and spirits, modern African forms of Christianity and othersupernaturalism) and modern politics in DRC, and its significance, influence and place in modernpeace processes. The project will explore the role of religious beliefs in modern political processesand political settlements. And whether are recognised and used in the conceptual methods andtheoretical approaches to international peace mediation, the design of peace processes and peacemakingefforts, and in the field of conflict resolutions. Many social and political scientists, (Mbiti,2010; Kagema, 2015; Daniel, 2010) suggest that although ATR and other modern forms of religiousbeliefs are important features of the local cultural identities, they have often been undermined,marginalised, neglected or labelled outdated, primitive, backward and irrational. The project willexplore to what extent this characterisation stifles the specific attainment of sustainable outcomesin negotiations for peace and reconciliation in post-conflict contexts.This project stems from my personal experience in facilitating a multi-track mediation (tracks one,two and three)1in DRC in 2012/2013. Working with international political peace mediators from theWoodrow Wilson Centre and the University of Rouen (France), I observed the combination ofvarious methods and approaches to conflict mediation and had the opportunity to co-mediate anintra-ethnic conflict involving a vice-president, senior army officials, some senators and severalsenior executives in the private sector. The process started with a direct negotiation approach withthe individual parties in the conflict, and proved successful. This was followed by a direct andindirect engagement with the parties in conflict to initiate dialogue using the Harvard Approachdelving deeper into the underlying interests and claims of parties and galvanising my interest infurther research about negotiations and conflict resolutions.