scheel mutombo | University Of Kinshasa (original) (raw)

Papers by scheel mutombo

Journal of Globalization Studies, Nov 29, 2023

approach. However, we critically explained the reasons why the DRC might find itself in a 'comple... more approach. However, we critically explained the reasons why the DRC might find itself in a 'complex dilemma', based on different learned insights and perspectives gathered and illustrated in numerical illustrations via figures and statistical tables. After analysis and discussion, the results of this paper clearly show that, beyond the different possible imaginations and strategic opportunities offered by the confrontation between the B3W and the BRI following to the 'conservative-progressive competition,' the DRC, like some developing countries, is in the prey of this 'complex dilemma' due to its different assets, weaknesses and problems. This is due to a number of fundamental reasons: its strategic character in the eyes of both 'conservatives' and 'progressives'; its pronounced dependence on both China and the Western world; and its fragility due to problems of leadership and political governance. To conclude, this paper reasoned that it is up to the DRC to prepare and preserve itself and learn from its past mistakes in order to better redefine the fundamental strategic options for its best survival. It is also up to the DRC to reshape its political model, in particular by strengthening its political governance, but above all by working towards the formation of an innovative leadership capable of capitalizing on the opportunities arising from such a confrontationwhile at the same time trying to contain, limit, and even prevent the possible risks.

Open Journal of Political Science

The concept of a community with a shared future for mankind is the basic variable of President Xi... more The concept of a community with a shared future for mankind is the basic variable of President Xi Jinping's foreign policy construction. It is misunderstood or regarded as wishful thinking but this concept has an ideal view of what the world should be. It embodies quite rational pragmatism in the implementation of our times. This concept is the intersection of Chinese and Western ancient and modern philosophical thoughts. It is deeply rooted in the Sinicized Marxist socialist philosophy. This paper attempts to simplify its understanding and enhance its pragmatism consciousness under the background of China-Africa cooperation.

U.S-China Competition in Africa: The Strategic Ambiguity

Open Journal of Political Science

Build Back Better World Versus the Belt and Road Initiative: DRC in a Complex Dilemma? Reimagining the World: Reflections on the Future of World Order: NIICE INTERNATIONAL STUDIES CONVENTION 2021 Conference Booklet

Congolese politic of China under Felix Tshisekedi, 2022

Scholars constantly disagree about the role of individual political leaders in foreign policy dec... more Scholars constantly disagree about the role of individual political leaders in foreign policy decision-making of small states towards great powers. Recent studies, further, contend that personalized foreign policy lead to discontinuity; even though, reasons behind such deterministic view are diverse and might be found on specific analysis. This article, however, look at Congo's China policy to elucidate the underpinning reasons which causes today's perceived discontinuity. It does by offering a comparative study of Kabila and Tshisekedi's policy towards China. Early findings suggest that, while the post Kabila Congo still has China as first economic partner its China policy underwent serious changes. The underlying reasons, we contend, are neither the intention to correct past errors nor Chinese unequal contracts explain this variation. This article argues, further, that the Congo's legitimate dependency towards the US is an important explaining variable. This variable is a matter of combining structural and domestic factors. In this case, the US-China strategic competition and the Congo's desperate need for peace has dictated the discontinuity character of Congo's foreign policy-decision making towards China.

Drafts by scheel mutombo

by Benjamin Mwadi Makengo, Joseph Mimbale, Gracien Mwadi Kapita, ESPOIR L U K A U MATEZO, scheel mutombo, CHRISTEL MPONGO NZIAZI, Willy Kalala Kankonde, Félicité Langwana, Patience Kamanda, Théo-Macaire Kaminar, Patrice Mukulu Nduku Bénis, Patrice Mukulu Nduku Bénis, Richard Kakesa, Jean-Marie Mbutamuntu, and Germain Kuna Maba Mambuku

Preprint, 2022

This article seeks to explain why the confrontation between the "Build Back Better World" [B3W] v... more This article seeks to explain why the confrontation between the "Build Back Better World" [B3W] versus the "Belt and Road Initiative" [BRI] might well place Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as the case for many other developing countries, in a "complex dilemma". The latter is understood here as a situation in which, faced with a choice between two paths to follow, it appears not only difficult to go in one direction against the other, but also to manage to balance the two at the same time, without taking a position [neutrality or third path] and without creating pronounced imbalances between the blocks of the "conservatives" and the "progressives"represented here respectively by the United States and China. The complexity of this dilemma is viewed in the strategic choice to be made and the possible costs in the aftermath of its choice for its survival. By using secondary data extracted from international and national sources, the methodology used in the elaboration of this document is essentially qualitative, based on the strategic analytical approach. However, we privileged not only purely theoretical analyses explaining the reasons for this "complex dilemma", but also numerical illustrations via figures and statistical tables. After analysis and discussion, the results that emerge from this paper clearly show that beyond the different possible opportunities presented by the confrontation between B3W and BRI following to the "conservative-progressive competition", due to its different assets, weaknesses and problems, DRC-as the case for certain developing countries, is in the prey of this "complex dilemma". This is due to a number of fundamental reasons: its strategic character in the eyes of both "conservatives" and "progressives"; its pronounced dependence on both China and the Western world; and its fragility due to problems of leadership and political governance. To conclude, this paper reasoned that it is up to DRC to prepare, preserve itself and learn from its past mistakes in order to better define the fundamental strategic options for its best survival. It is also up to DRC to reshape its political model, in particular by strengthening its political governance, but above all by working towards the formation of an innovative leadership capable of capitalizing on the opportunities arising from such a confrontation-all the while trying to contain, limit, and even prevent the possible risks.

Journal of Globalization Studies, Nov 29, 2023

approach. However, we critically explained the reasons why the DRC might find itself in a 'comple... more approach. However, we critically explained the reasons why the DRC might find itself in a 'complex dilemma', based on different learned insights and perspectives gathered and illustrated in numerical illustrations via figures and statistical tables. After analysis and discussion, the results of this paper clearly show that, beyond the different possible imaginations and strategic opportunities offered by the confrontation between the B3W and the BRI following to the 'conservative-progressive competition,' the DRC, like some developing countries, is in the prey of this 'complex dilemma' due to its different assets, weaknesses and problems. This is due to a number of fundamental reasons: its strategic character in the eyes of both 'conservatives' and 'progressives'; its pronounced dependence on both China and the Western world; and its fragility due to problems of leadership and political governance. To conclude, this paper reasoned that it is up to the DRC to prepare and preserve itself and learn from its past mistakes in order to better redefine the fundamental strategic options for its best survival. It is also up to the DRC to reshape its political model, in particular by strengthening its political governance, but above all by working towards the formation of an innovative leadership capable of capitalizing on the opportunities arising from such a confrontationwhile at the same time trying to contain, limit, and even prevent the possible risks.

Open Journal of Political Science

The concept of a community with a shared future for mankind is the basic variable of President Xi... more The concept of a community with a shared future for mankind is the basic variable of President Xi Jinping's foreign policy construction. It is misunderstood or regarded as wishful thinking but this concept has an ideal view of what the world should be. It embodies quite rational pragmatism in the implementation of our times. This concept is the intersection of Chinese and Western ancient and modern philosophical thoughts. It is deeply rooted in the Sinicized Marxist socialist philosophy. This paper attempts to simplify its understanding and enhance its pragmatism consciousness under the background of China-Africa cooperation.

U.S-China Competition in Africa: The Strategic Ambiguity

Open Journal of Political Science

Build Back Better World Versus the Belt and Road Initiative: DRC in a Complex Dilemma? Reimagining the World: Reflections on the Future of World Order: NIICE INTERNATIONAL STUDIES CONVENTION 2021 Conference Booklet

Congolese politic of China under Felix Tshisekedi, 2022

Scholars constantly disagree about the role of individual political leaders in foreign policy dec... more Scholars constantly disagree about the role of individual political leaders in foreign policy decision-making of small states towards great powers. Recent studies, further, contend that personalized foreign policy lead to discontinuity; even though, reasons behind such deterministic view are diverse and might be found on specific analysis. This article, however, look at Congo's China policy to elucidate the underpinning reasons which causes today's perceived discontinuity. It does by offering a comparative study of Kabila and Tshisekedi's policy towards China. Early findings suggest that, while the post Kabila Congo still has China as first economic partner its China policy underwent serious changes. The underlying reasons, we contend, are neither the intention to correct past errors nor Chinese unequal contracts explain this variation. This article argues, further, that the Congo's legitimate dependency towards the US is an important explaining variable. This variable is a matter of combining structural and domestic factors. In this case, the US-China strategic competition and the Congo's desperate need for peace has dictated the discontinuity character of Congo's foreign policy-decision making towards China.

by Benjamin Mwadi Makengo, Joseph Mimbale, Gracien Mwadi Kapita, ESPOIR L U K A U MATEZO, scheel mutombo, CHRISTEL MPONGO NZIAZI, Willy Kalala Kankonde, Félicité Langwana, Patience Kamanda, Théo-Macaire Kaminar, Patrice Mukulu Nduku Bénis, Patrice Mukulu Nduku Bénis, Richard Kakesa, Jean-Marie Mbutamuntu, and Germain Kuna Maba Mambuku

Preprint, 2022

This article seeks to explain why the confrontation between the "Build Back Better World" [B3W] v... more This article seeks to explain why the confrontation between the "Build Back Better World" [B3W] versus the "Belt and Road Initiative" [BRI] might well place Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as the case for many other developing countries, in a "complex dilemma". The latter is understood here as a situation in which, faced with a choice between two paths to follow, it appears not only difficult to go in one direction against the other, but also to manage to balance the two at the same time, without taking a position [neutrality or third path] and without creating pronounced imbalances between the blocks of the "conservatives" and the "progressives"represented here respectively by the United States and China. The complexity of this dilemma is viewed in the strategic choice to be made and the possible costs in the aftermath of its choice for its survival. By using secondary data extracted from international and national sources, the methodology used in the elaboration of this document is essentially qualitative, based on the strategic analytical approach. However, we privileged not only purely theoretical analyses explaining the reasons for this "complex dilemma", but also numerical illustrations via figures and statistical tables. After analysis and discussion, the results that emerge from this paper clearly show that beyond the different possible opportunities presented by the confrontation between B3W and BRI following to the "conservative-progressive competition", due to its different assets, weaknesses and problems, DRC-as the case for certain developing countries, is in the prey of this "complex dilemma". This is due to a number of fundamental reasons: its strategic character in the eyes of both "conservatives" and "progressives"; its pronounced dependence on both China and the Western world; and its fragility due to problems of leadership and political governance. To conclude, this paper reasoned that it is up to DRC to prepare, preserve itself and learn from its past mistakes in order to better define the fundamental strategic options for its best survival. It is also up to DRC to reshape its political model, in particular by strengthening its political governance, but above all by working towards the formation of an innovative leadership capable of capitalizing on the opportunities arising from such a confrontation-all the while trying to contain, limit, and even prevent the possible risks.