REFLECT
|  | Lessons from Rwanda's Genocide: For Better or for Worse, Leadership Matters | Senior Programme Advisor and Senior Fellow Dr Caty Clément draws lessons from the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and its aftermath. A recognised expert on the Great Lakes region, she sheds light on the direct consequences of political leadership and decision-making, both at national and international levels. "Twenty years later, people are still dying daily in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DCR) as a consequence of our collective failure during the Rwandese genocide. [...] Rwanda and the DRC bear testimony to the tragic consequences of political decision-making based on personal networks and short-term strategic goals rather than on early warning systems and objective analysis of long term impacts."
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ACT
|  | The Neurochemistry of Power
| Political power has been studied from many angles, including philosophy and political science. However, at the very basic level, power, just like other human emotions, has neurochemical foundations. It has neurochemical correspondents in the brain, such as dopamine, which is responsible for producing a sense of pleasure. This means that power can be addictive and difficult to relinquish. Absolute power produces intoxicating effects, making transitions or regime change very difficult since those in the positions of power will fight to maintain their power and associated neuronal rewards obtained through it. Only a system of checks and balances can mitigate against the excesses and abuses of power.
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ACTION POINT >> Have you ever witnessed the addictive effect of power?
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