A sharp and well informed argument that shows that Congo's environmental paradox is also at the heart of the world's environmental paradox.

Africa at LSE

An excellent overview of the major ecological resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo … reading this book is essential for understanding the many environmental paradoxes.

African Studies Quarterly

An invaluable contribution – a truly remarkable synthesis of the pathways to Congolese economic improvement and the many roadblocks along the way - the succinct and sparkling summation of the key elements of the political economy is most useful. The author's capacity to convey a rich treasure chest of information and acute analytical skills make this a landmark work.

Crawford Young, University of Wisconsin

A fascinating read, giving a no-nonsense view of the multitude of problems besetting Congo's natural resource sectors, how they affect ordinary people's daily lives, and how well-meaning donor initiatives are often intrinsically flawed. The book puts today's problems into historical perspective and will serve as a reality-check to politicians and activists.

Daniel Balint-Kurti, Global Witness

Most studies of natural resources and development delve into the details sector by sector. Linkages to violence, politics and state-building are treated separately for different resources. This eloquent and richly documented book focuses attention on the connections, and on the global forces adding complexity to these interactions and altering the political economy of possible change.

David Booth, Overseas Development Institute