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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Forced, coerced and voluntary recruitment into rebel and militia groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Author:Richards, Joanne
Year:2014
Periodical:Journal of Modern African Studies (ISSN 0022-278X)
Volume:52
Issue:2
Pages:301-326
Language:English
Geographic term:Congo (Democratic Republic of)
Subjects:militias
military recruitment
External link:https://www.jstor.org/stable/43302914
Abstract:This article investigates why non-State armed groups forcibly recruit civilians. To address this question the author develops a conceptual framework distinguishing voluntary, coerced and forced recruitment. The author then compares the recruitment tactics employed by 'Mai-Mai' militias and the RCD-Goma rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in order to inductively develop a theory explaining why groups with different initial economic and social endowments resort to force. This comparison draws on interviews with 41 former militia members and 11 former members of RCD-Goma. The theory suggests that forced recruitment is most likely to occur when non-State armed groups experience manpower deficits and when accountability, to local communities, government sponsors and/or the international community, is low. High levels of popular support will not necessarily prevent recourse to force under these conditions, but may mean that force is less necessary because voluntary and coerced recruits come forward to fill manpower gaps. App., bibliogr., notes, sum. [Journal abstract]
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