Destructive entrepreneurship and the security context. Program design considerations for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) and counterinsurgency
| Date | 15 August 2016 |
| Pages | 240-250 |
| Published date | 15 August 2016 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JEPP-03-2016-0009 |
| Author | Sameeksha Desai |
| Subject Matter | Strategy,Entrepreneurship,Business climate/policy |
Destructive entrepreneurship
and the security context
Program design considerations for
disarmament, demobilization and
reintegration (DDR) and counterinsurgency
Sameeksha Desai
School of Public and Environmental Affairs,
Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to deliver insight from the concept of destructive
entrepreneurship to program design considerations in conflict regions.
Design/methodology/approach –This paper discussesand connects destructiveentrepreneurship –
an important yet largely unexplored question in the entrepreneurship literature –with security policy,
related to evolving directions in the counterinsurgency literature and the traditional disarmament,
demobilization and reintegration (DDR) literature.
Findings –Counterinsurgency is increasingly the approach used by international and domestic
policymakers when dealing with regional conflict, and DDR processes have been used for decades to
transition former combatants into civilian life. Three broad considerations are particularly salient
(timing/sequencing/phasing, benefits and beneficiaries, and measurement) for DDR programs in the
counterinsurgency context.
Practical implications –An incentives-based approach to understanding destructive
entrepreneurship can provide useful insights for these two approaches and in particular, how they
can be used together.
Originality/value –This paper expands the current scope of understanding of destructive
entrepreneurship to the previously unconnected security policy contexts related to counterinsurgency
and DDR.
Keywords Reintegration, Counterinsurgency, Demobilization, Destructive entrepreneurship,
Disarmament
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
When he was crossing Zaire to take over the state, Laurent Kabila reportedly said all
that is needed for a rebellion is $10,000 and a satellite phone: $10,000 was enough to
hire the equivalent of a small army in the poor country, and the satellite phone was
to arrange deals with resource extraction companies (see Collier, 2007). Kabila’s army
included about 10,000 child soldiers between 7 and 16 years of age (see Singer, 2005/
2006; International Labour Office (ILO), 2003).
Kabila was a destructive entrepreneur: he recognized opportunity, took risk, and
leveraged resources. He allowed for newness in the supply of and combinations
in extractive industries, such as through deals with mining companies. Kabila’s
entrepreneurial spirit led to a wide range of first- and second-order effects on the local
economy. In addition to exploitation and depletion of diamonds, copper and other
industries –which lower future potential income from the mines –Kabila also recruited
and forced the use of labor and child soldiers, which can have many levels of effect
Journal of Entrepreneurship and
Public Policy
Vol. 5 No. 2, 2016
pp. 240-250
©Emerald Group Publishing Limited
2045-2101
DOI 10.1108/JEPP-03-2016-0009
Received 16 March 2016
Revised 9 June 2016
Accepted 9 June 2016
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/2045-2101.htm
240
JEPP
5,2
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