APCJ_1528_Win2010_00i_122_4 12/30/10 3:22 PM Page 47 Gaps in the Eastern Congo Peacebuilding Process 47 Morvan attribute the prevalence of violence and insecurity in the eastern DR Congo to alliances that coalesced based on ethnic considerations and the dearth of state-led social and economic activities in the region.20 The politico-cultural school of thought has met with criticism for downplaying the relative role of external (international) actors in the conflict. With respect to the violence witnessed in eastern Congo, an emerging alternative literature emphasizes the ingenuity of humans and advocates moral investment as a challenge for peace and political stability.21 This view presents the Congolese crisis as an ethical emergency, which requires moving beyond economic, bad governance and management, and politico-cultural factors, because humans cannot be reduced to these elements.22 From an ethical perspective, to identify as a human is not simply to pursue political power, selfishly guard ones own socio-economic interests, and identify solely with one’s ethnic or religious group.23 On the contrary, as Aristotle argued, a correct understanding of humans should accentuate two variables: rationality (which endows the capacity to be a co-creator of socio-cultural, political, and economic life) and reasonability (which endows the ability of people to live in harmony with each other).24 Jürgen Habermas argues that reasonability is the level at which one should situate the foundation of socio-political life.25 When there is a lack of rationality, violence and chaos will prevail.26 This means that human beings will always fight for political power, wealth, pride, and their beliefs. There has been little focus on increasing awareness of the root causes of the DR Congo conflict and the various peace agreements and their effects on prospects for achieving lasting peace. INTERNATIONAL DISCOURSE ON PEACEBUILDING AND CONGOLESE PEACE EFFORTS The focus of the international community in regard to peacebuilding is on stopping the violent eruption of conflict and making a sustainable transformation of violent conflict into peaceful action. The main questions in respect to war or armed conflict, as in the case of eastern DR Congo, are Who is involved? How can peace be built? What range of activities is needed, and how much time is there to act? Such questions 20. A. Mwaka Bwenge, ‘Les milices Mai-Mai à l’est de la République Démocratique du Congo: dynamique d’une gouvernabilité en situation de crise’, Revue Africaine de Sociologie, 7 (2003), 21–43. 21. Paulin Manwelo, ‘Lettre ouverte à l’homme politique congolais’, Congo-Afrique, no. 438 (2009), 563–66; idem, ‘Lettre ouverte au citoyen congolais à propos de la refondation de l’état’, Congo-Afrique, no. 43 (November 2009), 644–48. 22. Thierry Nlandu Mayamba, ‘Le modèle d’homme politique face à l’éthique et à la pauvreté’, CongoAfrique, 43 (2009), 693–99; Symphorien Pyana Mwamba, ‘(Re)construire l’Afrique noire: fonder l’ordre socio-politique sur la raison?’ Raison Ardente, 72–73 (2006), 106–23. 23. Paulin Manwelo, ‘Root causes of the December 2007 post-election crisis in Kenya’ in Aquiline Tarimo and Paulin Manwelo (eds.), Ethnicity, Conflict and the Future of African States (Nairobi, Paulines Publications Africa, 2008), 90–97. 24. Aristotle, La Politique (Paris, Vrin, 1995); Emmanuel Kant, ‘Réponse à la question: Qu’est-ce que les lumières?’ in Oeuvre philosophique de Kant (Paris, Gallimard, 1985), 2:209–217. 25. Jürgen Habermas, Théorie de l’agir communicationnelle, vol. 1: Rationalité de l’agir et rationalisation de la société (Paris, Fayard, 1987). 26. Sylvin Tshikoji Mbumba, De la bonne gouvernance: appel à un nouvel ordre éthique du pouvoir en Afrique noire (Kinshasa, Editions du Cerdaf, 2001).