Master Thesis Defense: Melike Ayşe Kocacık
Economic Interdependence And Civil Conflict Onset: An
Analysis On Tanzania And The Democratic Republic Of Congo
Melike Ayşe Kocacık
Siyaset Bilimi, M.Sc. Thesis, 2015
Thesis Jury
Emre Hatipoğlu (Thesis Supervisor), Arzu Kıbrıs, Reşat Bayer, Hasret Dikici Bilgin (Substitute Jury)
Date &Time: July,30th , 2015 – 12:30
Place: FASS 2034
Abstract
This study aims to show that colonization does not always lead to civil war since it
affects the economic relations of groups within colonized states in both directions.
First of all, the study examines the decision theoretic model for explaining how the
economic interdependency will decrease the probability of conflict. In doing so, static
and dynamic formed games are introduced and the models conclude that the utility of
engaging in war when groups which have symmetric endowments are higher.
Therefore, when colonization monoculturizes the production of groups, the onset of
war has more risk to the groups. In order to illustrate the model, the study focuses on
two cases: the Arusha and Meru in Tanganyika and the Hema and Lendu in the
Democratic Republic of Congo. The case of Arusha-Meru people indicates that
colonization actually lead the production scheme to diversify and hence, decreases the
tension between them. On the other hand, the Hema and Lendu tribes illustrate the
impact of monoculturization on the onset of civil conflict.