Title: Zaire : a country study /
Authors: Meditz, Sandra W., 1950-; Merrill, Tim, 1949-; Library of Congress.; American University (Washington, D.C.).; American University (Washington, D.C.).
Publisher: The Division : For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O.,
Year: 1994
Subjects: ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.; SOCIAL CONDITIONS.; POLITICAL CONDITIONS.; COUNTRY STUDIES.; DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO.; Congo (Democratic Republic)
Abstract: Research completed December 1993.
Contents: Human origins -- Early historical perspectives. State systems versus segmentary societies ; Rulers and ruled ; External pressures -- The colonial state. The Léopoldian legacy ; Belgian paternalism: underlying postulates ; The apparatus of control ; Postwar reforms -- Nationalist awakenings. The rise of militant ethnicity: Abako ; The challenge of territorial nationalism: Lumumba and the MNC ; Settler politics in Katanga -- The crisis of decolonization. The road to independence ; The mutiny of the force publique ; The center no longer holds ; The secession of Katanga ; The UN intervention -- The first republic, 1960-65. The Adoula government, August 1961-July 1964 ; Rural insurgencies: the "second independence" ; Mobutu's second coming --^ The second republic, 1965-90: the rebirth of bula matari. Mobutu, self-proclaimed father of the nation ; Toward political reconstruction ; The quest for legitimacy ; The expansion of state authority ; Zairianization, radicalization, and retrocession ; External threats to regime stability ; The durability of the patrimonial state -- Geography and environment. Rivers and lakes ; Geographic regions ; Climate ; Environmental trends -- Population. Size and growth ; Population distribution ; Urbanization: causes and characteristics -- Languages. Officially recognized languages ; Other indigenous languages --^ Ethnic groups. Non-Bantu speakers of the northern Savannas and forest fringe ; Bantu speakers of the Congo River Basin and its environs ; Bantu speakers of the eastern forest and plain ; Bantu speakers of the eastern highlands ; Peoples of the Savannas: southeastern Zaire ; Peoples of the Savannas: Lunda region ; Peoples of the southern uplands: Kasai-Shaba ; Peoples of the lower Kasai and its tributaries ; Peoples between the Kwango and the Kasai ; The Kongo peoples ; The significance of ethnic identification -- Indigenous social systems -- Zairian social classes. The external estate ; The politico-commercial class ; The new commercial class ; Other high-status groups ; The subbourgeoisie ; The working class ; The informal sector ; Peasants -- Polarization and prospects for conflict -- Strategies of survival. Coping and hustling ; Theft and bribery ; Patron-client relations ; Resistance ; Flight -- The status of women --^ Religion. The Roman Catholic Church ; Protestant churches ; The Kimbanguist church ; Other African Christian movements ; Traditional African religions -- Education. Policy changes ; Institutional problems -- Health and medical services. Incidence of disease ; Health care system ; Sanitation and nutrition ; Family planning -- Background and overview of the economy. Early economic activity ; From colonial times to independence ; Postindependence ; Zairianization ; Economic decline ; The 1983 reforms ; The 1987 plan ; The 1989 reform -- Role of government. Parastatals ; Patrimonial politics and corruption ; Investment projects -- Structure and dynamics of the economy. Gross domestic product ; The informal economy ; Currency ; Inflation ; Budget ; Debt ; Banking ; Labor -- Agriculture. National land law system ; Crops ; Forestry ; Fishing and livestock -- Mining. Copper and zinc ; Cobalt ; Manganese ; Tin and related materials ; Gold ; Diamonds -- Industry --^ Energy. Petroleum and other fuels ; Electricity -- Transportation and telecommunications -- Foreign exchange relations. Trade and balance of payments ; Foreign aid ; Foreign investment -- Prospects for growth -- Postindependence political development. Establishment of a personalistic regime ; The part-state as a system of rule -- Political reform in the 1990s. Proclamation of the third republic ; Subsequent political developments, 1990-93 -- Structure of government. The presidency ; The national executive council ; The legislature ; The judiciary and the courts ; Local government -- Political dynamics. Managing the military ; Opposition to the regime prior to 1990 ; Opposition since 1990 ; Interest groups ; The media -- Foreign policy. Relations with the West ; Relations with the communist world ; Regional relations -- National security environment --^ Evolution of the armed forces. The colonial period ; The Congolese National Army ; The military under Mobutu ; Creation of the Zairian armed forces ; Involvement in Angola ; Shaba I ; Shaba II -- Public attitudes toward the military -- Armed forces missions and organization. Army ; Navy ; Air force ; National gendarmerie -- Armed forces manpower and training. Recruitment and retention ; Conditions of service ; Military schools ; Uniforms, ranks, and insignia -- Foreign military relations. Foreign influences ; Zaire as military aid donor -- Public order and internal security -- The civil security apparatus. Development of a national police force ; Local police ; The intelligence apparatus and security forces ; The party security apparatus ; Popular attitudes toward the civil security apparatus -- The legal and penal systems. Criminal law and the penal code ; The judicial system ; The prison system -- Civil and human rights.