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Distributional conflict, the state, and peace building in Burundi

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  • Léonce Ndikumana

    (University of Massachusetts Amherst)

Abstract

This paper examines the causes of conflict in Burundi and discusses strategies for building peace. The analysis of the complex relationships between distribution and group dynamics reveals that these relationships are reciprocal, implying that distribution and group dynamics are endogenous. The nature of endogenously generated group dynamics determines the type of preferences (altruistic or exclusionist), which in turn determines the type of allocative institutions and policies that prevail in the political and economic system. While unequal distribution of resources may be socially inefficient, it nonetheless can be rational from the perspective of the ruling elite, especially because inequality perpetuates dominance. However, because unequal distribution of resources generates conflict, maintaining a system based on inequality is difficult because it requires ever increasing investments in repression. It is therefore clear that if the new Burundian leadership is serious about building peace, it must engineer institutions that uproot the legacy of discrimination and promote equal opportunity for social mobility for all members of ethnic groups and regions. JEL Categories: 00

Suggested Citation

  • Léonce Ndikumana, 2005. "Distributional conflict, the state, and peace building in Burundi," UMASS Amherst Economics Working Papers 2005-13, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ums:papers:2005-13
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paul Collier & Anke Hoeffler, 2002. "On the Incidence of Civil War in Africa," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 46(1), pages 13-28, February.
    2. Ndikumana, Leonce, 2004. "Additionality of debt relief and debt forgiveness, and implications for future volumes of official assistance," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 13(3), pages 325-340.
    3. Paul Collier, 2000. "How to Reduce Corruption," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 12(2), pages 191-205.
    4. Grossman, Herschel I, 1999. "Kleptocracy and Revolutions," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 51(2), pages 267-283, April.
    5. Léonce Ndikumana, 2001. "Fiscal Policy, Conflict, and Reconstruction in Burundi and Rwanda," WIDER Working Paper Series DP2001-62, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    6. Johannes Fedderke & Charles Simkins, 2012. "Economic Growth in South Africa," Economic History of Developing Regions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(1), pages 176-208.
    7. Paul Collier & Anke Hoeffler, 2004. "Greed and grievance in civil war," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 56(4), pages 563-595, October.
    8. Alberto Alesina & Eliana La Ferrara, 2003. "Ethnic Diversity and Economic Performance," Harvard Institute of Economic Research Working Papers 2028, Harvard - Institute of Economic Research.
    9. Paul Collier, 2000. "Ethnicity, Politics and Economic Performance," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(3), pages 225-245, November.
    10. Kisangani Emizet & Léonce Ndikumana, 2003. "The Economics of Civil War: The Case of the Democratic Republic of Congo," Working Papers wp63, Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
    11. F Ngaruko & JD Nkurunziza, 2000. "An economic interpretation of conflict in Burundi," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 9(3), pages 370-409.
    12. B Bigombe & P Collier & N Sambanis, 2000. "Policies for building post-conflict peace," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 9(3), pages 323-348.
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    Cited by:

    1. Xinhai Lu & Zhoumi Li & Hongzheng Wang & Yifeng Tang & Bixia Hu & Mingyue Gong & Yulong Li, 2022. "Evaluating Impact of Farmland Recessive Morphology Transition on High-Quality Agricultural Development in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-19, March.
    2. Chenlu Zhu & Xiaolin Dong & Liren Ding & Chen Lin, 2021. "Research on the Driving Factors for the Development of Inclusive Finance in Rural Commercial Banks: Market Competition or Government Intervention?," Businesses, MDPI, vol. 2(1), pages 1-18, December.
    3. Isabel Ruiz & Carlos Vargas-Silva, 2022. "Refugee return and social cohesion," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 38(3), pages 678-698.
    4. Devon E.A. Curtis, 2015. "Development assistance and the lasting legacies of rebellion in Burundi and Rwanda," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(7), pages 1365-1381, July.
    5. Curtis, Devon E. A., 2014. "Local agency, development assistance and the legacies of rebellion in Burundi and Rwanda," WIDER Working Paper Series 128, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    6. Devon E. A. Curtis, 2014. "Local Agency, Development Assistance and the Legacies of Rebellion in Burundi and Rwanda," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2014-128, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    7. Léonce Ndikumana, 2013. "Overcoming Low Political Equilibrium in Africa: Institutional Changes for Inclusive Development," Working Papers wp331, Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Burundi; conflict; Africa; distribution; institutions.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa

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