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A ferocious and smart response to the FP "There is no Congo" piece from Congolese blogger and commentator Ali Mamina. He argues that the persistent interventions into Congolese politics by international companies, especially mining companies, and the meddling of neighbors like Uganda and Rwanda have guaranteed that no Congolese state can survive. Is this the fault of Congo, or of other parties who can't keep their hands of the nation's mineral riches? Wouldn't it make more sense to criticize everyone's impulse to intervene in Congo than to give up on the idea of a coherent Congolese state?
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Jeffrey Herbst and Greg Mills argue that the best way to solve the problems the Democratic Republic of Congo faces as a state involve breaking it into smaller states, recognizing that some regional capitals are far closer, culturally and practically, to other nation's capitals than to Kinshasa.
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Background on the map of geographic connection/disconnection. Surprise that less than 10% of the world's population lives more than 48 hours travel from a city of 50,000 or more.
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Gorgeous map of geographic disconnection – a visualization of how long it takes to get to a city of 50,000 or more people from every point in the world, using river, road, rail and other networks. A fascinating picture of what parts of the world are and are not disconnected.
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As Facebook offers users a hand in shaping terms of service – with fairly high barriers to participation – Zittrain reflects on questions on whether this is a step forward or a smokescreen, and cautiously concludes it's a fairly major step forward. Very interesting analysis, and very intriguing to see Facebook reacting to user protest in this fashion.
April 23rd, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Thanks Ethan for directing your readers to Ali’s post on the DR Congo, especially after his long absence from the blogosphere. We have added to that conversation quite a bit since your last visit so you may want to check it out again for updates. It’s nice to have a member of the original DRC blogger crew back on the scene.
The ladies over at GVO (Elia Varela Serra and Jennifer Brea) have become my GOTO references when it comes to important news and opinions about the DR Congo. They are doing a really great job in keeping people informed in my opinion___ and they are so dedicated to their work. How much you guys paying them for all that hard work (lots I bet)?
April 23rd, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Thank you Ethan for the link to the post on my blog. I invite people to come and discuss it, and read the continuing conversation that ensued in the comments.
Peace.