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General Books publication date: 2009Original publication date: 1906Original Publisher: G. P. Putnam's SonsSubjects: Congo (Democratic Republic)BelgiumCongo Free StateBusiness ... Read more

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Congo Foreign Policy and Government Guide ... Read more

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Congo Democratic Republic Foreign Policy and Government Guide ... Read more

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As this book shows, the People of the Congo have suffered throughout the past century from a particularly brutal experience of colonial rule, and a series of post-independence political conflicts. But as this insightful political history of the Congolese democratic movement of the 20th century decisively makes clear, its people have not taken these multiple oppressions lying down. Instead, they have struggled both to establish democratic institutions at home and to free themselves from exploitations abroad.
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Customer Reviews (2)

Best one volume history of Congo (RDC) in English
For anyone interested in the history of the Democratic Republic ofthe Congo, this is the book to read.The author is a Congolese with solid academic credentials and a passionate concern for the people of Congo.It covers somewhat more than the last century, and the author has been personally involved in the last four decades of Congo's history, bringing penetrating insight and profound knowledge of the inner dynamics of the country's evolution.He has a keen feel for political currents in Kinshasa, even the acerbic humor of "Kinois" society, which for instance called the UDI political party in the 90s the "Union des détourneurs incorrigibles" (Union of incorrigible embezzlers). The Preface has a brief autobiography which positions the author in relation to the government there, one which he confronted boldly.

Nzongola-Ntalaja states that "This book is a study of the democracy movement in Congo, from the standpoint of popular resistance to exploitation and repression, for a better social and political order" (3), and the perspective molds the entire book.This should not be surprising from a person who spent most of his life in exile and in resistance to the powers governing his own nation.He emphasizes those groups and individuals in Congo's history who have resisted the government.This is not an official history!

Along with Democracy, another related theme running through the book is that of the tremendous weight of external influences in Congo's history over the last century.Beginning with King Leopold of the Belgians, through the colonial rulers which followed him, on to the Cold War superpowers, and finally invading neighboring African states like Uganda and Rwanda, Congo's vast riches and strategic location have attracted outsiders.As to Western powers since Congo's independence, they have preferred to support "technocrats" (such as Kengo) rather than leaders with a popular base (like Tshisekedi) who are more likely to listen to the people than the foreigners.He finds Mobutu, Kabila, and Bemba to all be exploiters, using the great wealth of the nation to enrich themselves and their external supporters rather than serving the needs of the people.

Unlike Ndaywel's longer general history in French,1 Nzongola-Ntalaja does not cover the pre-colonial period.After the Introduction, the next section covers the colonial period, beginning with the infamous King Leopold of the Belgians, who began the colony under the ironic name of the Congo Free State, founded officially in 1885.Nzongola-Ntalaja describes in detail the suffering of the Congolese people under the cruelties of the exploitative Leopoldian regime, as they were forced to produce ivory and especially rubber for the burgeoning factories of Europe. Hoschchild's recent book on this topic is known to many readers.2

Nzongola-Ntalaja's evaluation of the Belgian Congo regime which followed in 1908 is only somewhat less negative, with the rubrics being economic exploitation, political repression, and cultural oppression.He characterizes the political situation as one of "despotism and total control"(37).

The complexity of the politics following independence in 1960 are deftly analyzed, with an emphasis on the machinations of Western powers, a "multilateral conspiracy of imperialists led by the United States"(116), leading among other consequences to the murder of Lumumba, who "died for attempting to uphold the constitutional order, national unity and territorial integrity" (116).Those who might consider this too harsh an assessment would be counseled to look into the recent book by De Witte, which Nzongola-Ntalaja cites3 and the recent apologies of the Belgian parliament (the American government has unfortunately not yet had the courage to follow suit).But the author does not hold back from criticizing the other leaders of independence in Congo "for being more concerned with enjoying the material benefits that colonialism and the colour bar had denied them than with a radical transformation of the inherited system."(88).And he gives considerable insight into such internal dynamics as the Lulua-Luba conflict in the Kasai near independence time.

Nzongola-Ntalaja gives a positive assessment of the rebels of the mid-60s, whose aim he states to be "freedom from foreign control and expanded democratic and economic rights"(120).This is perhaps a bit overly generous to the philosophies of Olenga, Soumialot and Gbenye, although the author does detail some of the shortcomings of these leaders in later pages.

Beginning with the coup by Mobutu in 1965, the pace of the book picks up, as the author is more knowledgeable about events because he was a participant as well as an academic observer.It should come as no surprise that he is justly highly critical of the Mobutu's rule, but with objectivity he plots the trajectory of the regime, which in its earlier stages was less repressive, and more successful in economic development and the rendering of state services, than in later stages.There is a fine analysis of the multitude of organizations involved in repressing popular discontent, including an army of general-entrepreneurs and poorly trained, ill-paid, and extorting soldiers.

The 1990s portion of this book is the finest.There is the deserved rich detail on the important Sovereign National Conference (CNS in French) at which he was a delegate, a conference which has received entirely too little attention.He is harshly critical of Bishop Monsengwo, who led the conference, and even of the Sacred Union leaders, with their "contempt for democratic procedures" (196), but he does point out the main problem, Mobutu, who went about vigorously sabotaging the conference.For those of us who were living in Kinshasa during those exciting and turbulent days, Nzongola-Ntalaja has captured the importance of this crucial turning point in Congolese political history, and deftly analyzed the positive elements of the conference, as well as the cause for its ultimate failure, a failure which, in the light of what followed, can be seen as nothing less than an immense tragedy. The political mayhem of the post-SNC period is detailed, and Nzongola-Ntalaja himself became deputy president of the National Commission on Elections, which however was sabotaged by opposing political players, including Mobutu.

Laurent Kabila came to power in 1997.The author explains this process, and castigates the regime he installed as "lacking in vision, competence and concern with the plight of the Congolese people" (246).This section could have been more detailed, describing the ways in which Kabila repressed the very non-violent political culture, most notably Tshisekedi, as he installed his autocratic regime.

Nzongola-Ntalaja forcefully refutes the idea that the second rebellion, that of 1998, was a "civil war".He sees it entirely as a foreign invasion by Rwanda and Uganda, bent on enriching themselves.But he also accuses the supporters of the Congo government, Angola and Zimbabwe, of financing their war from Congo's riches.The rebel groups are called "puppets", and Nzongola-Ntalaja givespersonal experiences, even transcripts of telephone conversations, to prove it.He details the disgusting dealings with "rogue" companies to exploit the areas conquered by the invading Rwandan and Ugandan armies, and wonders why Western powers made such a big fuss about the invasion of Kuwait and none about this invasion.In contrast, he cites the Mai-Mai as the only exception to the somber picture, seen as resistance fighters for democracy. Perhaps at the time of his writing this was more true than now, for the viciousness and ethnic motivations of what various Mai-Mai factions are doing today also seems somber.

But this is a minor criticism of a book which is overall accurate, passionate, and well written.One is hard put to find errors in the book, whether the author's or the printer's. There is a map, plus chapter endnotes, chronology, bibliography, and index.Professor Nzongola-Ntalaja is very candid in presenting his own quite valid perspectives.In view of his position in Congolese society, and his own life of academic achievement and personal political struggle, it is a perspective which must be given great weight.Those who know him personally can attest to his genuine concern for democracy and for the welfare of the people of Congo.This is a book which should be read by all those interested in understanding Congo, that huge country in the center of Africa whose history has had repercussions not only on its neighbors, but on the rest of the world.

History written by a Congolese
This book is great because it offers the best information you can find on the internal resistance against colonial rule, on the mobutu dictatorship and on the Conférence Nationale Souveraine (beginning of the 90s). The very extensive descriptions of the changing classes in the Congolese society are somewhat boring. And the book poorly describes what happens after 97.
Ntalaja's english is easy reading for non-native speakers like myself ;-) ... Read more

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Understanding the current civil war in Congo requires an examination of how the Congo's identity has been imagined over time. Imagining the Congo historicizes and contextualizes the constructions of the Congo's identity during four historical periods. Kevin Dunn explores "imaginings" of the Congo that have allowed the current state of affairs there to develop, and the broader conceptual question of how identity has become important in recent IR scholarship.
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Why did the democratic experiment launched in the Republic of Congo in 1991 fail so dramatically in 1997? Why has it not been seriously resumed since then? In tackling these complex questions, John Clark provides a thorough analysis of more than fifteen years of Congolese politics.

Clark explores a series of logical hypotheses regarding why democracy failed to take root in Congo, moving from political culture to economic performance, ethnoregional identities, French foreign policy, the role of militias, and institutional design. He also discusses the country s present electoral authoritarian regime. His conclusions shed light not only on the nature of Congolese politics, but also on the utility of the scientific approach to understanding the social world. ... Read more

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Genocide in the Congo/Zaire exposes incredible and horrific atrocities taking place in the heart of Africa, in the Congo/Zaire, a country that is as big as all of Western Europe or the United States East of the Mississippi River.The World, though, is silent over 1.7 million deaths, a number larger that the Rwandan genocide in 1994.Why the silence?How come the American mainstream media has not raised hell or demanded action?Is this a repeat of the 1960’s when the American Government and its CIA engaged in covert operations to kill foreign heads of states and destabilize foreign governments that they did not like?What is happening in the Congo comes close to that.The 1.7 million Congolese have died with the financial, military and political blessings and help of the US Government, Western Europe (The Paris Club), and the mining Conglomerates.Who own the media outlets?Who finance the politicians’ campaigns?This book exposes, both in words and pictures, the genocide and humanitarian misery being directed by President Clinton, Europe and the companies that are enriching themselves over Congo’s mineral wealth.Because President Kabila of the Congo wants a fair deal for the wealth of his country, Clinton and the West don’t like him.So he must be removed, like it was done to Patrice Lumumba in the 60’s.In this process, already 1.7 million Congolese have died.Would genocide, rape, and mutilations of the Congolese be President Clinton’s Congo Legacy?

Customer Reviews (5)

Tell The Children The Truth (BoB Marley)
I read this book several times.It is excellent in it's exposure of the United States, Europe, and rich mega corporation's, rip off and genocide in Africa.The Congo, and central Africa in general, has always been a source of mineral wealth for Europeans and Euro-Americans.Yaa-Lengi Ngemi is to be congratulated on bringing this out in our modern day times.For a small book, he has a lot in it, but there is much much more of course on the atrocities in Congo.He should be applauded also for his translation from French to English of the African-Senegalese scholar Cheikh Anta Diop's book, "Civilization and Barbarisim".He is a great African Scholar and mentor of mine.

I have never been so disappointed in a book..
There's not a lot I can say beyond the title of this review. From reading the description of the book I expected to learn something about how the foreign policies of various countries combined with the poor leadership in the DR Congo to destroy the country. Instead I got a small book that was poorly designed and pretty much 100% content-free. There are lots of pictures though. If you're looking for pictures covering the various tragedies that have befallen the Congo this is the book for you. If you like reading poorly edited rants and pages of long, mundane lists this might be the book for you. ...

I have never been so disappinted in a book..
There's not a lot I can say beyond the title of this review.From reading the description of the book I expected to learn something about how the foreign policies of various countries combined with the poor leadership in the DR Congo to destroy the country. It's hard to find any good books in English on Francophone African countries, and I eagerly awaited the arrival of this book. Imagine my disappointment when I got a small book that was poorly designed and pretty much 100% content-free. There are lots of pictures though. If you're looking for pictures covering the various tragedies that have befallen the Congo this is the book for you. If you like reading poorly edited rants, this might be the book for you. If you actually want to read and learn... invest your [money] in a better book.

Total Disappointment
I purchased this book as research for a paper on genocide in the Congo, and quickly discovered there was hardly any information whatsoever - instead, each page is a photograph with one or two sentences underneath.What facts were given were strewn amongst run-on sentences, spelling errors, and horrific grammar.

This book is filled with photographs of corpses, dismembered arms and legs, and so on.While this is a legitimate aspect of the mass murders that took place in the Congo, it would have been most helpful if the book had provided the information the title promised - the links between the genocide and President Clinton, the Paris Club, etc.

I had no intention of purchasing a picture book - I could have read Time Magazine to obtain photographs and propaganda if I was after such drivel.The only reason I gave this book one star is no stars was not an option.

Most Inexpensive Deep Look at Real World Genocide

This book is a perfect complement to the more scholarly and policy-oriented book by John Heidenrich on "How to Prevent Genocide: A Guide for Policymakers, Scholars, and the Concerned Citizen."I strongly recommend that both books be bought and read at the same time.

This book is a cry from the heart of a Congolese, it has explicit photographs, and you can get through it in half an hour--what you see and feel will be with you for the rest of your life.

It is a good thing when a book of this utility and importance can make its way from the lower depths of Africa and--with the help of amazon--into the mainstream world where anyone can learn of its availability.This is not a book that will be found in libraries or used in classrooms--it is a book that is at once so inexpensive and so horrifying, that any adult who in any way cares about the future of the international community, should buy it....at the same time that they get the Heidenrich book.Two men, world's apart, with one mind and the same broken heart.

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This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's preservation reformatting program. The Library seeks to preserve the intellectual content of items in a manner that facilitates and promotes a variety of uses. The digital reformatting process results in an electronic version of the text that can both be accessed online and used to create new print copies. This book and thousands of others can be found in the digital collections of the University of Michigan Library. The University Library also understands and values the utility of print, and makes reprints available through its Scholarly Publishing Office. ... Read more

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2009 Reprint,updated,printed ""on demand""- Congo Foreign Policy & Government Guide ... Read more

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High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo was tasked with moving from the state riven by the Second Congo War (1998-2003) to a government based upon a constitution agreed on by consensus. In 2001 President Laurent Kabila was assassinated and his son Joseph Kabila was named head of state. In October 2002, Joseph Kabila negotiated the withdrawal of Rwandan forces occupying eastern Congo. Two months later, the Pretoria Accord was signed by all remaining warring parties to end the fighting and establish a government of national unity. The transitional period came to end with the completion of the 2006 general election and the swearing in of Kabila as President on 6 December 2006. ... Read more

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This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Iraq Telecom, published by Information Gatekeepers, Inc. on April 1, 2010. The length of the article is 349 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

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Title: Congolese government raises issue with Zain Congo's acquisition.(KUWAIT)
Author: Unavailable
Publication: Iraq Telecom (Magazine/Journal)
Date: April 1, 2010
Publisher: Information Gatekeepers, Inc.
Volume: 8Issue: 4Page: 5(2)

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Congo, Democratic Republic Diplomatic Handbook (World Business, Investment and Government Library) ... Read more

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Congo Dem. Republic Foreign Policy and Government Guide (World Investment and Business Guide Library) ... Read more