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<article xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:ali="http://www.niso.org/schemas/ali/1.0/" article-type="research-article" dtd-version="1.2" xml:lang="en"><front><journal-meta><journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">RUDN Journal of Political Science</journal-id><journal-title-group><journal-title xml:lang="en">RUDN Journal of Political Science</journal-title><trans-title-group xml:lang="ru"><trans-title>Вестник Российского университета дружбы народов. Серия: Политология</trans-title></trans-title-group></journal-title-group><issn publication-format="print">2313-1438</issn><issn publication-format="electronic">2313-1446</issn><publisher><publisher-name xml:lang="en">Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University)</publisher-name></publisher></journal-meta><article-meta><article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">48019</article-id><article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.22363/2313-1438-2025-27-4-848-866</article-id><article-id pub-id-type="edn">DWWWNV</article-id><article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="toc-heading" xml:lang="en"><subject>СOUNTRY-SPECIFIC CASE STUDIES</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="toc-heading" xml:lang="ru"><subject>СТРАНОВОЙ АНАЛИЗ</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="article-type"><subject>Research Article</subject></subj-group></article-categories><title-group><article-title xml:lang="en">Resources and Power Dynamics in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Interplay Between Formal Institutions and Informal Networks of Governance</article-title><trans-title-group xml:lang="ru"><trans-title>Ресурсы и власть в Демократической Республике Конго: формальные и неформальные режимы управления</trans-title></trans-title-group></title-group><contrib-group><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6872-3748</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Avdalyan</surname><given-names>Mary R.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Авдалян</surname><given-names>Мэри Рафаэлевна</given-names></name></name-alternatives><bio xml:lang="en"><p>Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Asian and African Studies</p></bio><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>старший научный сотрудник, Институт стран Азии и Африки</p></bio><email>avdalyanmr@my.msu.ru</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5354-0047</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Orlova</surname><given-names>Liubov N.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Орлова</surname><given-names>Любовь Николаевна</given-names></name></name-alternatives><bio xml:lang="en"><p>Dr.Sc. (Economics), Professor, Department of Economics of Innovative Development, Faculty of Public Administration</p></bio><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>доктор экономических наук, профессор, кафедра экономики инновационного развития, Факультет государственного управления</p></bio><email>l.orlova@spa.msu.ru</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1386-8442</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Sitar</surname><given-names>Ksenia A.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Ситар</surname><given-names>Ксения Александровна</given-names></name></name-alternatives><bio xml:lang="en"><p>PhD (Geology and Mineralogy), Senior Research Fellow, Department of Geology and Geochemistry of Combustible Minerals, Faculty of Geology</p></bio><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>кандидат геолого-минералогических наук, старший научный сотрудник, кафедра геологии и геохимии горючих ископаемых, Геологический факультет</p></bio><email>sitarka@my.msu.ru</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3423-6970</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Baranovskaya</surname><given-names>Ekaterina I.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Барановская</surname><given-names>Екатерина Ивановна</given-names></name></name-alternatives><bio xml:lang="en"><p>PhD (Geology and Mineralogy), Associate Professor, Department of Hydrogeology, Faculty of Geology</p></bio><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>кандидат геолого-минералогических наук, доцент, кафедра гидрогеологии, Геологический факультет</p></bio><email>baranovskaya_kat@mail.ru</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0700-8262</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Fesyun</surname><given-names>Andrey G.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Фесюн</surname><given-names>Андрей Григорьевич</given-names></name></name-alternatives><bio xml:lang="en"><p>PhD (History), Research Fellow, Institute of Asian and African Studies</p></bio><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>кандидат исторических наук, научный сотрудник, Институт стран Азии и Африки</p></bio><email>fesyun@iaas.msu.ru</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3078-1050</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Timirgaleeva</surname><given-names>Rena R.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Тимиргалеева</surname><given-names>Рена Ринатовна</given-names></name></name-alternatives><bio xml:lang="en"><p>Dr.Sc. (Economics), Professor, Lead Programmer, Institute of Mathematical Research of Complex Systems</p></bio><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>доктор экономических наук, профессор, ведущий программист, Институт математических исследований сложных систем</p></bio><email>timirgaleevarr@my.msu.ru</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/></contrib></contrib-group><aff-alternatives id="aff1"><aff><institution xml:lang="en">Lomonosov Moscow State University</institution></aff><aff><institution xml:lang="ru">Московский государственный университет им. М.В. Ломоносова</institution></aff></aff-alternatives><pub-date date-type="pub" iso-8601-date="2025-12-31" publication-format="electronic"><day>31</day><month>12</month><year>2025</year></pub-date><volume>27</volume><issue>4</issue><issue-title xml:lang="en">Politics in Africa and Africa in Politics</issue-title><issue-title xml:lang="ru">Политика в Африке и Африка в политике</issue-title><fpage>848</fpage><lpage>866</lpage><history><date date-type="received" iso-8601-date="2026-01-12"><day>12</day><month>01</month><year>2026</year></date></history><permissions><copyright-statement xml:lang="en">Copyright ©; 2025, Avdalyan M.R., Orlova L.N., Sitar K.A., Baranovskaya E.I., Fesyun A.G., Timirgaleeva R.R.</copyright-statement><copyright-statement xml:lang="ru">Copyright ©; 2025, Авдалян М.Р., Орлова Л.Н., Ситар К.А., Барановская Е.И., Фесюн А.Г., Тимиргалеева Р.Р.</copyright-statement><copyright-year>2025</copyright-year><copyright-holder xml:lang="en">Avdalyan M.R., Orlova L.N., Sitar K.A., Baranovskaya E.I., Fesyun A.G., Timirgaleeva R.R.</copyright-holder><copyright-holder xml:lang="ru">Авдалян М.Р., Орлова Л.Н., Ситар К.А., Барановская Е.И., Фесюн А.Г., Тимиргалеева Р.Р.</copyright-holder><ali:free_to_read xmlns:ali="http://www.niso.org/schemas/ali/1.0/"/><license><ali:license_ref xmlns:ali="http://www.niso.org/schemas/ali/1.0/">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0</ali:license_ref></license></permissions><self-uri xlink:href="https://journals.rudn.ru/political-science/article/view/48019">https://journals.rudn.ru/political-science/article/view/48019</self-uri><abstract xml:lang="en"><p>The aim of the study is to analyze the interrelation between natural resources and power in the Democratic Republic of Congo through the lens of formal and informal governance regimes. The methodology is based on an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on the concept of legal pluralism, research on the “resource curse” phenomenon, and analysis of the interaction between formal and informal actors as well as external players. The study identifies the mechanisms through which the DRC’s natural wealth becomes a driver of socio-economic vulnerability and political instability. The results show that in the DRC, the resource curse manifests in a complex manner, encompassing mineral, land, and water resources, as well as ecological systems, and transforms into a structural factor of internal instability. Control over resource extraction serves as a source of both revenue and power, which reinforces institutional weakness, provokes conflicts, and exacerbates poverty. The conclusion is drawn that without institutional reform and the establishment of mechanisms for accountable and inclusive resource governance, the DRC will remain in a state of chronic instability, where natural wealth reproduces crisis rather than development.</p></abstract><trans-abstract xml:lang="ru"><p>Цель исследования - анализ взаимосвязи природных ресурсов и власти в Демократической Республике Конго через призму функционирования формальных и неформальных режимов управления. Методология основана на междисциплинарном подходе с опорой на концепцию правового плюрализма, исследования феномена «ресурсного проклятия» и анализ взаимодействия формальных и неформальных акторов, а также внешних игроков. В ходе исследования выявлены механизмы, через которые природные богатства ДРК становятся фактором социально-экономической уязвимости и политической нестабильности. Результаты исследования показывают, что в ДРК ресурсное проклятие проявляется комплексно, охватывая минеральные, земельные, водные ресурсы и экологические системы, и трансформируется в структурный фактор внутренней нестабильности. Контроль над добычей ресурсов становится источником как дохода, так и власти, что усиливает институциональную слабость, провоцирует конфликты и усугубляет бедность. Сделан вывод, что что без институциональной реформы и выстраивания механизмов подотчетного и инклюзивного управления ресурсами ДРК останется в состоянии хронической нестабильности, где природное богатство воспроизводит кризис, а не развитие.</p></trans-abstract><kwd-group xml:lang="en"><kwd>Democratic Republic of the Congo</kwd><kwd>natural resources</kwd><kwd>mining industry</kwd><kwd>political institutions</kwd><kwd>conflict minerals</kwd><kwd>poverty</kwd><kwd>informal economy</kwd><kwd>traditional authority</kwd><kwd>colonial legacy</kwd></kwd-group><kwd-group xml:lang="ru"><kwd>Демократическая Республика Конго</kwd><kwd>природные ресурсы</kwd><kwd>горнодобывающая промышленность</kwd><kwd>политические институты</kwd><kwd>конфликтные минералы</kwd><kwd>бедность</kwd><kwd>неформальная экономика</kwd><kwd>традиционная власть</kwd><kwd>колониальное наследие</kwd></kwd-group><funding-group><award-group><funding-source><institution-wrap><institution xml:lang="ru">Работа выполнена при поддержке Программы развития МГУ, проект № 24-Ш05-07 на тему «Исследование потенциала природных ресурсов и новых форматов отношений между Россией и странами Азии и Африки: моделирование экономического, политического и культурного сотрудничества».</institution></institution-wrap><institution-wrap><institution xml:lang="en">The research was supported by the MSU Development Program, Project No. 24-Ш05-07, “Exploring the Potential of Natural Resources and New Formats of Relations between Russia and the Countries of Asia and Africa: Modeling Economic, Political, and Cultural Cooperation.”</institution></institution-wrap></funding-source></award-group></funding-group></article-meta><fn-group/></front><body></body><back><ref-list><ref id="B1"><label>1.</label><citation-alternatives><mixed-citation xml:lang="en">Bakamana, D.B. 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