About the Book

This is an immensely readable, radical introduction to the Congo that pays attention to the importance of economic production for social organization. It traces the story of the Congo from the unleashing of King Leopard’s fury across the region in the 19th century, to the Western-sponsored murder of Patrice Lumumba in 1961, to the war that has ravaged the country since 1997. The authors argue that the nature of global capitalism has led to the expansion of private capital accompanied by social collapse. As for the future, the hope is that another politics will emerge from the resistance of ordinary Congolese to imperialist slaughter and the post-independence Mobutu dictatorship.

Commendations

'A book which must be read by those who believe that the marginalization of Africa is the result of its backwardness, while it is in fact the very product of its integration in the global imperialist system.' - Samir Amin

'A brilliant guide to one of the modern world’s most atrocious cases of systematic eco-social destruction. We all have a responsibility to learn from this important book, and to change the power balances accordingly.' - Patrick Bond, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

'A concise, analytical and well-corroborated account of how Western countries from the late 19th century on systematically and ruthlessly exploited the Congo, both economically and strategically. Anyone wishing to comprehend the origins of Africa's seemingly endless problems is advised to get hold of a copy of this book.' - Marcus Papadopoulos in The Tribune

Contents

1. Missionaries and Traders 2. Miners and Planters 3. Rebels and Generals 4. The Great Dictator 5. The Failed ‘Transition’ 6. Speculators and Thieves

About the Authors

David Renton is currently a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Sunderland and is also the author of Dissident Marxism

Leo Zeilig is a a researcher at the Centre for Sociological Research at the University of Johannesburg.

David Seddon is Professor of Politics & Sociology School of Development Studies, University of East Anglia.