'Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja is one among those very few intellectuals who possesses the background, the knowledge, the commitment and the vantage point from which to assess the historical possibilities for contemporary Congo.'
Mahmood Mamdani, Columbia University
'A leading Congolese scholar-activist, Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja, delivers his magnum opus. The book is the product of a lifetime of study of Congolese politics, both as observer and participant. The richly documented narrative makes clear why Congolese nationalism survives the collapse of its state, the many decades of oppressive rule, and the depredations of external forces.'
Crawford Young, University of Wisconsin-Madison
'It is refreshing to have a well-written popular history of the Congo by a Congolese scholar and sometime activist'
Choice
'Authoritative books in English on the Congo are scarce, so this work by a leading Congolese academic is welcome'
Gail M. Gerhart, Foreign Affairs
This book is the winner of the African Politics Conference Group (APCG) first Best Book Award 2003
- Introduction
- 1. Imperialism, Belgian Colonialism and African Resistance
- 2. The Struggle for Independence
- 3. The First Congo Crisis
- 4. The Second Independence Movement
- 5. The Mobutu Regime: Dictatorship and State Decay
- 6. The Struggle for Multiparty Democracy
- 7. Conflict in the Great Lakes Region
- Conclusions