FACULTYOFINDUSTRIALTECHNOLOGY

B.ENG(HONS)TELECOMMUNICATIONSENGINEERING

NAME TENDAI B CHINGWENA

SUBJECT TCL1106
STUDENTNUMDER 174743
MODULEFACILITATOR MRSKANOGOIWA
DUEDATE 28FEBRUARY2018
ASSINGMENT NO. 1

QUESTION
IN REFERENCE TO MICRO AND MACRO THEORIES OF CONFLICT, DISCUSS
CAUSES OF CONFLICT IN AFRICA (25 MARKS).
QUESTION
In reference to micro and macro theories of conflict, discuss causes of conflict
in Africa (25 marks).

SOLUTION
Abstract
A theory summarizes existing knowledge and provides guidelines for conducting
research and interpreting new information. (Gelles & Levine, 1999) “It is an
organized body of assumptions that generates hypotheses and explains
behaviours within a specific framework.” Many theories were developed and
are classified using four main definition issues which includes defining peace;
nature, causes, onset and dynamics of conflict; conflict resolution; and building
sustainable peace. Focusing only on the cause of conflicts, there exist three major
cause of conflicts theories, the first being what is called the “classical”, the
second the “behaviourist” and the third being the “Linkage”. The piece below
only highlights only the classical, behaviourist and the linkage theories as the
major contributions to the cause of conflicts specifically in Africa.
INTRODUCTION
It is believed that root causes of conflicts in Africa is mainly as a result of both
micro and macro theories. Micro theories examine the individual subconscious
while macro(classical) theories, on the other hand, focus on the interaction of
groups, specifically on the conscious level. These theories help us to know the
type and cause of conflict at both individual and group levels.
BODY
The major causes of conflicts in Africa are due to classical theories as explained
by the Karl Marx classical theories. In exploitations of one group by another is
the main source of class conflicts. This form of conflict grows out of one class
holding itself superior and trying to dominate another for its own interests.
These interests may be social prestige, religious objectives, or political power or
economic advantages. In Africa the major foremost cause of conflicts is
inequality between groups. Inequality between groups increases the prospects
of violent conflict rather than individuals and exists on three mutually
reinforcing levels: economic, social and political. In countries like Zimbabwe’s
political power and its benefit were monopolised by ZANU PF Party only for the
past 18 years. Unequal access to power perpetuated a similar lack of access to
resources and revenue hence causing the society to divide into two pre-
dominant parties MDC and ZANU PF growing inequality between them. This is
now leading to endless class conflicts especially in 2008.Racism also plays an
important role in the eradication of conflicts in Africa. It is one of the micro-
aggressions act of prejudice and intentional that can take a large toll on a person
which in turn leads to a class conflict. In African countries like Zimbabwe racism
that occurred between the whites and blacks when it was under British
government led to First Chimurenga War. The minority rule was set to satisfy
the whites’ needs only and supress the black oppression. This result in the
emerging conflict in Zimbabwe.
The abuse of ethnicity has also contributed to the cause conflict in Africa.
Political leaders and belligerents in Africa have made increasing use of ethnic
hatred. Such abuse prolongs conflict, creates long term divisions that reduce the
effectiveness of peacebuilding efforts as explained by the ethnic theory. A
perfect example of the abuse of ethnicity is the war which occurred in DRC
where elements of the DRC government have openly provoked ethnic tensions
in the Kivus. Their main objective was to destabilize areas under the influence
of Rwanda. Equally elements of the Ugandan armed forces have exploited ethnic
differences in order to benefit commercially from the conflict. In both instances
community divisions have been deepened and there have been a greater
number of fatalities and injury than are experienced in more conventional
fighting.
Theorists also believes that competition for the scarce resource is also a
common cause conflicts, which furthers causes ethnic wars. For example,
differing material interests rose between classes in the Marxist paradigm
conflict. In a capitalist society, two main classes can be identified. The means of
production such as land and factories are monopolized by a few people; the
bourgeois class owns the capital and material resources needed for mass
production. Using this same view, countries whose economies dependents on
natural resources such as oil and minerals, face a very high risk of class conflict.
In order to satisfies the human need of this resources, some people only
consider their self-worth such that they try to take control of all the resources.
The competition goals for conquering resource results in class conflicts. For
example, Ethiopia and Egypt had a competition of water resources over Nile
River in 2015. Ethiopia had agreed with China to build a large dam for electricity
generation. This led to eruption of a conflict as the Egyptians were now being
threatened to their life, history and civilization, which lies within a few miles
from the river Nile. In reaction to a stimulus Egypt secure the Nile river by
building a strong army with in turn threatening back the Ethiopians giving rise
to a conflict. Also the human basic theory accompanied by the drive theory is
put into consideration here as it explains the causes of conflicts. Since
Zimbabwe’s economy rely on agricultural activities, the need for more
agricultural land led to the elimination whites (regarded as capitalist in the time
of the colonial rule) in farms by the Land reformed program launched by Former
President R. G. Mugabe. The whites consider their interest of mass production
only to secure their food storages which appeared as a threat in the coming
years to the Zimbabweans (working class). This led to conflicts between whites
and blacks in Zimbabwe.
According to the drive theory, it is found that one can cause conflict to satisfies
his or her intentions as. This is usually linked to the human nature or behaviour
(elementarily or naturally developed) as stated by the instinct theory. These two
help us to know how conflicts in Africa result due to poverty and emigration.
Conflicts in African countries like Zimbabwe are as a result of poverty. This drives
different women individuals engaging commercial sex working programs and
some including men also as thieves to earn a living or for pleasure satisfying their
behaviour “sex, stealing etc.”. In doing that competition for men to sleep with
thus results in conflict. The driving effect towards their goal is the major micro
cause of conflicts mostly in poor countries. Emigration is indeed linked to causes
of conflicts in Africa too. It is trigger mainly by political and economic stability
which leads to low-family income, poor education facilities etc. In response to
this problems, people tend to be driven towards areas of green pastures where
they can find the appropriate needs as suggested by the drive theory above. This
leads to conflicts in the new place as competition for jobs arise between
emigrants and local people of that particular place which further influences
violence. For instant the Xenophobia phenomena that occurred in South Africa
were South Africans fight against the Zimbabweans over a lot of issues including
the job issue.
“The gist of the Enemy System Theory is the hypothesis that humans have a deep
rooted psychological need to dichotomise and to establish enemies and allies.
This phenomenon happens on individual and group levels contributing to the
rise of conflicts. For example, In Zimbabwe, The 93-year-old Former President
Fired Former Vice President Cde E.D Munangagwa who appears to be an enemy
in their progress in ruling ZANU PF Party. This ushered the tension between the
youths in ZANU PF heavily influenced by Mugabe’s ally Former first lady Grace
Mugabe. Conflicts the emerges in the country as it was an acts of satisfying
himself (the military and Mugabe’s allies and his family needs as explained by
both identity theory and enemy system theory The Military mobilize and him
put under house arrest after the country’s it took over the state broadcaster and
arrested allies of Mugabe’s wife, Grace, in the ruling ZANU-PF party.
CONCLUSION
The above chapter has examined the types and causes of conflict at an
introductory level. It therefore has no pretensions whatsoever of claim to
covering the entirety of theories and typology of conflict. It has however
attempted to establish the factuality of inevitability of conflict and the technical
variation between conflict and war, particularly as they affect the study of
politics. Conflict is inherent in society because the latter is structured to produce
conflict; just as it is inbuilt in the human nature to have flashes of temper. There
have always been the haves and the haves-not, the strong and the weak, the
dominant and the vulnerable; a situation that is often accompanied by perpetual
struggle between the divides. These are the stimulating factors in local and
international conflict, as well as the basic characteristics of the global human
society.
REFERENCES
The causes of conflict in Africa - UK Government Web Archive
webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/www.dfid.gov.uk/.../conflict-africa.pdf
Root Causes Of Conflict, Challenges At The Micro ... - Havens Center
www.havenscenter.org/files/hadjipavlou2.pdf
Conflict Theory
www.unc.edu/~tonob/conflicttheory.pdf
Chapter Three Types and Causes of Conflict Sheriff F. Folarin, PhD ...
eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/3241/1/Folarin%2025.pdf