imiМеждународная аналитикаJournal of International Analytics2587-84762541-9633MGIMO University10.46272/2587-8476-2024-15-1-118-135imi-541Research ArticleИССЛЕДОВАТЕЛЬСКИЕ СТАТЬИRESEARCH ARTICLES«Конголитэ»: разделительные линии в политической жизни современной ДРК‘Congolité’: Dividing Lines in the Political Life of the Contemporary DRCНикольскаяМ. В.NikolskayaM. V.

Никольская Майя Викторовна - и.о. директора Центра африканских исследований ИМИ МГИМО МИД России.

119454, Москва, пр. Вернадского, 76

Mayya V. Nikolskaya - Acting Director of the Centre for African Studies, Institute for International Studies, MGIMO University.

76, Vernadsky avenue, Moscow, 119454

nikolskaya.m.v@my.mgimo.ruМГИМО МИД РоссииРоссияMGIMO UniversityRussian Federation202418062024151118135Copyright © Никольская М.В., 20242024Никольская М.В.Nikolskaya M.V.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.https://www.interanalytics.org/jour/article/view/541

Статья посвящена исследованию политической идентичности в Демократической Республике Конго. Автор уделяет особое внимание современной интерпретации понятия «конголитэ» – конголезской идентичности, во многом тождественной идее национального гражданства. Сам концепт «конголитэ» рассматривается в статье как набор правовых норм, как инструмент электоральной борьбы и как символический конструкт. Новое звучание этот концепт приобрел в контексте законопроекта, выдвинутого в 2021 г., а его возвращение во внутреннюю политику является показательным с точки зрения понимания настроений в конголезском обществе. Автор также задается целью выявить основные направления дискуссии об идентичности и приходит к выводу, что одной из ее констант является проблема политико-правового статуса руандафонного меньшинства (баньяруанда / баньямуленге), а другой – регионально-языковая фрагментация, которую усиливает экономико-демографическая специфика. Оба этих фактора в значительной степени влияют на внутренние паттерны голосования. Дискурс «чистоты» автохтонного происхождения оценивается как усугубляющий эту фрагментацию и конфликтогенность в отношениях Конго с государствами региона, в частности с Руандой.

The article is devoted to the study of political identity in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The author pays particular attention to the modern interpretation of the concept of ‘Congolité’ – Congolese identity, which is in many ways identical to the idea of national citizenship. The concept of ‘Congolité’ itself is considered in the article as a set of legal norms, as an instrument of electoral struggle and as a symbolic construct. The concept has acquired a new meaning in the context of the 2021 draft law, and its return to domestic politics is significant for understanding the mood of Congolese society. The author also tries to identify the main lines of the identity debate and concludes that one of its constants is the problem of the political-legal status of the Rwandafon minority (Banyarwanda / Banyamulenge), and another is regional-linguistic fragmentation, which is reinforced by economic-demographic specificity. Both of these factors have a significant impact on internal voting patterns. The discourse of autochthonous ‘purity’ is seen as exacerbating this fragmentation and as generating conflict in Congo’s relations with states in the region, particularly Rwanda.

идентичностьконголитэДемократическая Республика Конгогражданствобаньямуленгеязыковой фактор в политикевыборыIdentityCongolitéDemocratic Republic of the CongocitizenshipBanyamulengelanguage in politicselectionsReferencesДенисова, Т.С., Костелянец, С.В. Демократическая Республика Конго: политическая нестабильность и фактор Руанды // Вестник РУДН. Серия: Международные отношения. 2023. № 1. С. 37–47. https://doi.org/10.22363/2313-0660-2023-23-1-37-47.Denisova, T.S., and S.V. Kostelyanets. “The Democratic Republic of the Congo: Political Instability and the Rwandan Factor.” Vestnik RUDN. International Relations, no. 1 (2023): 37–47 [In Russian].Зарецкий, Ю. История, память, национальная идентичность // Неприкосновенный запас. 2008. № 3. http://magazines.russ.ru/nz/2008/3/za4.html.Zaretskii, Yu. “Istoriya, pamyat’, natsional’naya identichnost’.” Neprikosnovennyi zapas, no. 3 (2008) [In Russian].Кудряшова, И.В. Как обустроить разделенные общества // Political science. 2016. № 1. C. 15–33.Kudryashova, I.V. “How to Accomplish Stability in Divided Societies.” Political science, no. 1 (2016): 15–33.Мельвиль, А.Ю., Миронюк, М.Г., Стукал, Д.К. Государственная состоятельность, демократия и демократизация (На примере посткоммунистических стран) // Политическая наука. 2012. № 4. С. 83–105.Melvil, A.Yu., Mironyuk, M.G., Stukal, D.K. “Gosudarstvennaya sostoyatel'nost', demokratiya i demokratizatsiya (Na primere postkommunisticheskikh stran).” Politicheskaya nauka, no. 4 (2012): 83–105 [In Russian].Метаморфозы разделенных обществ / под ред. И.В. Кудряшовой, О.Г. Харитоновой. Москва: МГИМО-Университет, 2020. 284 с.Kudryashova, I.V., Kharitonova O.G., eds. Metamorfozy razdelennykh obshchestv. Moskva: MGIMO-Universitet, 2020 [In Russian].Миняжетдинов, И.Х. «Балканизация» Ирака: факторы воспроизводства и распространения политического насилия // Конфликты и войны XXI века (Ближний Восток и Северная Африка). М.: Институт Востоковедения РАН, 2015. С. 249–276.Minyazhetdinov, I. KH. “‘Balkanizatsiya’ Iraka: faktory vosproizvodstva i rasprostraneniya politicheskogo nasiliya.” In Konflikty i voiny XXI veka (Blizhnii Vostok i Severnaya Afrika), 249–276. M.: Institut Vostokovedeniya RAN, 2015 [In Russian].Ндайисаба, О. Угроза «балканизации» Демократической Республики Конго и позиция государств региона Великих озер Африки // Южно-российский журнал социальных наук. 2019. № 3. С. 127–135.Ndayisaba, A. The Threat of Balkanization of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Stand of the States in the Great Lakes Region.” South-Russian Journal of Social Sciences, no. 3 (2019): 127–135 [In Russian].Сидорова, Г.М. Интеграция Демократической Республики Конго в систему международных отношений // Экономические отношения. 2017. № 4. С. 375–386. https://doi.org/10.18334/eo.7.4.38603.Sidorova, G.M. “Integratsiya Demokraticheskoy Respubliki Kongo v sistemu mezhdunarodnyh otnosheniy.” Ekonomicheskie otnosheniya, no. 4 (2017): 375–386 [In Russian].Сидорова, Г.М. Кто виноват в нестабильности Демократической Республики Конго? // Вестник МГИМО-Университета. 2014. № 6. С. 29–36. https://doi.org/0.24833/2071-8160-2014-6-39-29-36.Sidorova, G.M. “Who is Responsible for Instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo?” MGIMO Review of International Relations, no. 6 (2014): 29–36 [In Russian].Шишков, В.В. Некоторые тенденции и перспективы политического развития ведущих государств субсахарной Африки и Латинской Америки // Сравнительная политика. 2015. № 2. С. 73–85.Shishkov, Vasiliy V. “Some Trends and Prospects of Political Development of Leading States Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.” Comparative Politics 19, no. 2 (2015): 73–85 [In Russian].Büscher, Karen, Sigurd D’hondt, and Michael Meeuwis. “Recruiting a Nonlocal Language for Performing Local Identity: Indexical Appropriations of Lingala in the Congolese Border Town Goma.” Language in Society 42, no. 5 (2013): 527–556. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047404513000651.Büscher, Karen, Sigurd D’hondt, and Michael Meeuwis. “Recruiting a Nonlocal Language for Performing Local Identity: Indexical Appropriations of Lingala in the Congolese Border Town Goma.” Language in Society 42, no. 5 (2013): 527–556. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047404513000651.Carment, David, Yiagadeesen Samy, and Joe Landry. “Transitioning Fragile States: A Sequencing Approach.” The Fletcher Forum of World Affairs 37, no. 2 (2013): 125–51. http://www.jstor.org/stable/45289592.Carment, David, Yiagadeesen Samy, and Joe Landry. “Transitioning Fragile States: A Sequencing Approach.” The Fletcher Forum of World Affairs 37, no. 2 (2013): 125–51. http://www.jstor.org/stable/45289592.Castillo, Joshua. “The Power of Language and the Language of Power: Sociolinguistic Methods and Social Histories of Language and Political Power in Mobutu’s Congo-Zaire (1965–1997).” History in Africa, no. 50 (2023): 7–39. https://doi.org/10.1017/hia.2022.13.Castillo, Joshua. “The Power of Language and the Language of Power: Sociolinguistic Methods and Social Histories of Language and Political Power in Mobutu’s Congo-Zaire (1965–1997).” History in Africa, no. 50 (2023): 7–39. https://doi.org/10.1017/hia.2022.13.Grimm, Sonya, Lemay-Hébert, Nicolas, and Oliver Nay. “‘Fragile States’: Introducing a Political Concept.” Third World Quarterly 35, no. 2 (2014): 197–209.Grimm, Sonya, Lemay-Hébert, Nicolas, and Oliver Nay. “‘Fragile States’: Introducing a Political Concept.” Third World Quarterly 35, no. 2 (2014): 197–209.Huening, Lars-Christopher. “Making Use of the Past: the Rwandophone Question and the ‘Balkanisation of the Congo.’” Review of African Political Economy 135, no. 40 (2013) :13–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/03056244.2012.761603.Huening, Lars-Christopher. “Making Use of the Past: the Rwandophone Question and the ‘Balkanisation of the Congo.’” Review of African Political Economy 135, no. 40 (2013) :13–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/03056244.2012.761603.Jackson, Stephen. “Sons of Which Soil? The Language and Politics of Autochthony in Eastern D.R. Congo.” African Studies Review 49, no. 2 (2006): 95– 124. https://doi.org/10.1353/arw.2006.0107.Jackson, Stephen. “Sons of Which Soil? The Language and Politics of Autochthony in Eastern D.R. Congo.” African Studies Review 49, no. 2 (2006): 95– 124. https://doi.org/10.1353/arw.2006.0107.Kaiser, Kai, and Stephanie Wolters. “Fragile States, Elites, and Rents in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).” In In the Shadow of Violence: Politics, Economics, and the Problems of Development, edited by Douglass C. North, John Joseph Wallis, Steven B. Webb, and Barry R. Weingast, 70–111. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012.Kaiser, Kai, and Stephanie Wolters. “Fragile States, Elites, and Rents in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).” In In the Shadow of Violence: Politics, Economics, and the Problems of Development, edited by Douglass C. North, John Joseph Wallis, Steven B. Webb, and Barry R. Weingast, 70–111. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012.Kamunga, F. Report on Citizenship Law: Democratic Republic of Congo. EUI Global Citizenship Observatory, 2022. https://cadmus.eui.eu/bitstream/handle/1814/74188/RSC_GLOBALCIT_CR_2022_1.pdf.Kamunga, F. Report on Citizenship Law: Democratic Republic of Congo. EUI Global Citizenship Observatory, 2022. https://cadmus.eui.eu/bitstream/handle/1814/74188/RSC_GLOBALCIT_CR_2022_1.pdf.Kankolongo, A.M. “La cohabitation du français et des langues nationales en République démocratique du Congo est-elle harmonieuse?” In Le français et les langues partenaires: convivialité et compétitivité, 141–150. Pessac: Presses universitaires de Bordeaux, 2014.Kankolongo, A.M. “Is the Cohabitation of French and National Languages in the Democratic Republic of Congo Harmonious?” In French and PartnerLanguages: Conviviality and Competitiveness, 141–150. Pessac: Presses universitaire de Bordeaux, 2014 [In French].Kaplan, S. “Identity in Fragile States: Social Cohesion and State Building.” Development, no. 52 (2009): 466–472. https://doi.org/10.1057/dev.2009.57.Kaplan, S. “Identity in Fragile States: Social Cohesion and State Building.” Development, no. 52 (2009): 466–472. https://doi.org/10.1057/dev.2009.57.Koddenbrock, Kai. “The ‘Failed-State’ Effect: Statebuilding and State Stories from the Congo.” In Routledge Handbook of International Statebuilding, edited by Chandler, D., and T.D. Sisk, 118–130. London: Routledge, 2013. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203370377.Koddenbrock, Kai. “The ‘Failed-State’ Effect: Statebuilding and State Stories from the Congo.” In Routledge Handbook of International Statebuilding, edited by Chandler, D., and T.D. Sisk, 118–130. London: Routledge, 2013. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203370377.Lamini, R. Culture politique de la société congolaise: évolution des traditions et des comportements politiques: Thèse de doctorat en Sociologie. Paris, 1986.Lamini, R. Political Culture of the Congolese Society: Evolution of Traditions and Political Behaviours: Doctoral Dissertation in Sociology. Paris, 1986 [In French].Mulatris, P. “‘Congolité’ et construction identitaire dans le discours médiatique congolais.” In Discours d’Afrique, 83–92. Besançon: Presses universitaires de Franche-Comté, 2009.Mulatris, P. “‘Congolité” and Identity Construction in the Congolese Media Discourse.” In Discours d’Afrique, 83–92. Besançon: Presses universitaires de Franche-Comté, 2009 [In French].Musinde, J.K. “Langue française en milieu plurilingue congolais: structure et variation.” Environnement francophone en milieu plurilingue, no. 4 (2012): 399–404.Musinde, J.K. “The French Language in a Plurilingual Congolese Environment: Structure and Variations.” Environnement francophone en milieu plurilingue, no. 4 (2012): 399–404 [In French].Ndahinda, Felix Mukwiza, and Aggée Shyaka Mugabe. “Streaming Hate: Exploring the Harm of Anti-Banyamulenge and Anti-Tutsi Hate Speech on Congolese Social Media.” Journal of Genocide Research 26, no. 1 (2024): 48–72. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623528.2022.2078578.Ndahinda, Felix Mukwiza, and Aggée Shyaka Mugabe. “Streaming Hate: Exploring the Harm of Anti-Banyamulenge and Anti-Tutsi Hate Speech on Congolese Social Media.” Journal of Genocide Research 26, no. 1 (2024): 48–72. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623528.2022.2078578.Ntanyoma, Rukumbuzi D., and Helen Hintjens. “Expressive Violence and the Slow Genocide of the Banyamulenge of South Kivu.” Ethnicities 22, no. 3 (2022): 374–403. https://doi.org/10.1177/14687968211009895.Ntanyoma, Rukumbuzi D., and Helen Hintjens. “Expressive Violence and the Slow Genocide of the Banyamulenge of South Kivu.” Ethnicities 22, no. 3 (2022): 374–403. https://doi.org/10.1177/14687968211009895.Rotberg, Robert I. “Failed States, Collapsed States, Weak States: Causes and Indicators.” In State Failure and State Weakness in a Time of Terror, edited by Robert I. Rotberg, 1–25. Brookings Institution Press, 2003.Rotberg, Robert I. “Failed States, Collapsed States, Weak States: Causes and Indicators.” In State Failure and State Weakness in a Time of Terror, edited by Robert I. Rotberg, 1–25. Brookings Institution Press, 2003.Signé, Landry. “Leaving No Fragile State and No One Behind in a Prosperous World: A New Approach.” In Leave No One Behind: Time for Specifics on the Sustainable Development Goals, edited by Homi Kharas, John W. McArthur, and Izumi Ohno, 239–280. Brookings Institution Press, 2019.Signé, Landry. “Leaving No Fragile State and No One Behind in a Prosperous World: A New Approach.” In Leave No One Behind: Time for Specifics on the Sustainable Development Goals, edited by Homi Kharas, John W. McArthur, and Izumi Ohno, 239–280. Brookings Institution Press, 2019.Sweet, Rachel. “Peacebuilding as State Building? Lessons from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.” In The State of Peacebuilding in Africa, edited by T. McNamee, and M. Muyangwa, 295–320. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46636-7_17.Sweet, Rachel. “Peacebuilding as State Building? Lessons from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.” In The State of Peacebuilding in Africa, edited by T. McNamee, and M. Muyangwa, 295–320. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46636-7_17.Szulecki, Kacper, Bertelli, Davide, Erdal, Marta Bivand, Coșciug, Anatolie, Kussy, Angelina, Mikiewicz, Gabriella, and Corina Tulbure. “To Vote or not to Vote? Migrant Electoral (dis)engagement in an Enlarged Europe.” Migration Studies 9, no. 3 (2021): 989–1010. https://doi.org/10.1093/migration/mnab025.Szulecki, Kacper, Bertelli, Davide, Erdal, Marta Bivand, Coșciug, Anatolie, Kussy, Angelina, Mikiewicz, Gabriella, and Corina Tulbure. “To Vote or not to Vote? Migrant Electoral (dis)engagement in an Enlarged Europe.” Migration Studies 9, no. 3 (2021): 989–1010. https://doi.org/10.1093/migration/mnab025.Tareke, Sibuh Gebeyaw. “State Fragility, Failure and Collapse in the New World Order: A Critical Assessment of the Applicability of these Concepts in the Сase of Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia.” Journal of Law and Conflict Resolution 12, no. 2 (2021): 13–24. https://doi.org/10.5897/JLCR2019.0299.Tareke, Sibuh Gebeyaw. “State Fragility, Failure and Collapse in the New World Order: A Critical Assessment of the Applicability of these Concepts in the Сase of Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia.” Journal of Law and Conflict Resolution 12, no. 2 (2021): 13–24. https://doi.org/10.5897/JLCR2019.0299.Trefon, Theodore, Van Hoyweghen, Saskia, and Stefaan Smis. “Editorial: State Failure in the Congo: Perceptions & Realities.” Review of African Political Economy 29, no. 93/94 (2002): 379–88. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4006785.Trefon, Theodore, Van Hoyweghen, Saskia, and Stefaan Smis. “Editorial: State Failure in the Congo: Perceptions & Realities.” Review of African Political Economy 29, no. 93/94 (2002): 379–88. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4006785.Verweijen, Judith. Stable Instability: Political Settlements and Armed Groups in the Congo. London: Rift Valley Institute, 2016.Verweijen, Judith. Stable Instability: Political Settlements and Armed Groups in the Congo. London: Rift Valley Institute, 2016.

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest present.