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As an academic treatment of the interrelationships of the topics contained in the title, this volume is an ambitious undertaking. Mobimba has done extensive research into the various internal and external factors that have shaped modern-day Congo, and he offers a few recommendations for more responsible and sustainable leadership.
The introduction provides a global perspective on the structure of governments around the world, including where they have been strong and where corruption or disruption have stood in the way of sound policy. Following this discussion, the text then begins to break down the various elements more specifically, with sections dedicated to discussion of governance in general, governance specifically related to environment and natural resources, and governance of urban ecology. Having laid a strong foundation for the rest of the discussion, Mobimba then moves into a more specific treatment of elements with direct effects upon the people of DRC, such as waste management and disaster management. Throughout the book he stresses the importance of the role of governance in ensuring human health and welfare, which must include ensuring a sustainable future.
As an academic discussion of the issue, the book is well-informed, strongly researched, and smoothly organized. It is not a book for those who are only casually interested. Without a compelling reason to push through the almost 400 pages of text, it is difficult to envision anyone outside the field reading every word. However, even for those only mildly curious, this book could serve as a strong reference source.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review