Regime Complexities in the Political Economy of Cobalt Mining in the DRC

Balyaminu, Jeleel and Mphambukeli, Thulisile and Magande, Tinashe (2025) Regime Complexities in the Political Economy of Cobalt Mining in the DRC. URBAN INNOVATION: TO BOLDLY GO WHERE NO CITIES HAVE GONE BEFORE. Medium sized cities and towns as a major arena of global urbanisation. Proceedings of REAL CORP 2025, 30th Intl. Conference on Urban Development, Regional Planning and Information Society. pp. 775-783. ISSN 2521-3938

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Abstract

The surge in global demand for cobalt, driven by the growth of lithium-ion battery markets, has ignited a mining boom in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). However, the extractive industries in the DRC are entangled in complex power dynamics, murky governance structures, and severe social and environmental degradation. This article employs the regime complex theory to dissect the intricate political economy of cobalt mining in the DRC. Our meta-synthesis of content analysis, integrating findings from diverse sources, exposes how the cobalt mining regime complex, characterised by intersecting international trade agreements, national mining codes, and informal artisanal mining networks, perpetuates inequality, fuels conflict and undermines sustainable development in the region. This research underlines the imperative for a nuanced understanding of the transnational governance arrangements that shape the political economy of cobalt mining.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Democratic Republic of Congo, regime complex theory, cobalt mining, governance, sustainability
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor H Social Sciences > HM Sociology H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
Depositing User:	REAL CORP Administrator
Date Deposited:	16 May 2025 09:13
Last Modified:	16 May 2025 09:13
URI:	http://repository.corp.at/id/eprint/1166

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