Book Review: Turner, Thomas. Congo Wars Conflict Myth and Reality

By Brian Freeman

Turner, Thomas. Congo Wars Conflict Myth and Reality. New York: Zed Books, 2007.

During the late 20th Century the Congo went through a number of catastrophic wars, epidemic and economic hardship which would lead to the death of perhaps four million people. The events that occurred in the Congo which caused the massive loss of human life are generally misunderstood and scholarly research is very limited. Thomas Turner's Congo Wars Conflict Myth Reality is the one of few books which tries to not only to understand what happened in the Congo but sort out the explanations for the causes.

Author Thomas Turner is a professor at Victoria Commonwealth University and had previously taught in universities in the Congo, Kenya, Tunisia and Rwanda. Tuner writes Congo Wars Conflict Myth Reality for the people of Africa. Because it is written for the African nation the author hardly ever introduces or gives background information on a number of people and ethnic groups. Turner assumes the reader has prior knowledge of the event. If the average reader will find if they do not have pior background information on the Rwanda genocide or wars they will find themselves constantly referencing encyclopedias for more information. The main criticism of Congo Wars Conflict Myth Reality deals with Turner’s writing style and sources. When Turner gives an explanation it is very difficult to understand and takes multiple readings in order to discover what the author is trying to say. Readers will find Turner’s over explanation repetitive and very dry. Academic readers will question Turner’s use of a Wikipedia article as a source that references another website. Despite these problems Congo Wars Conflict Myth Reality gives the reader an African perspective and does not place the blame on particular group of people or country. Turner does an excellent job showing how a number of factors failed to stop the wars and genocide that occurred. Turner most notably blames, Belgium Colonization, neighboring African nations, and lack of international assistance United Nations failure to intervene.

One of the most interesting finds that Turner discovers in his research is how the influence of Belgium colonization attempts by Belgian King Leopold affected the Congo region. Turner states, Belgium drive for colonization in the Congo is based solely around exploiting African labor and natural resources. The Belgian colonist brutalized the local population to find and produce rubber until mining could be developed. This Belgian drive and need for rubber forced them into practice enforcing rubber quotas by cutting off the limbs of the natives. This practice set a number local African ethnic groups competing against one another for rubber which would set the foundation for future ethnic problems. The red rubber search would be the first of many problems that Belgium colonization brought to the Congo. Most importantly Turner, through his research, shows how Belgium colonial influence created cultures in the Congo which gave some groups the false feelings of racial superiority. It is this view racial superiority in the author's opinion that played a major role in the development of atrocious behaviors which would be seen in the Congo. The author shows us how Belgian colonization destroyed the countries culture. The native African people of Congo unlike other nation that have been colonized did not retain their original culture after independance. Turner shows the reader how Colonization separated the Congo in to regional regimes each fighting for power and natural resources.

Neighboring African nations wanting to exploit the rich natural resources of the Congo constantly disturbed the fragile balance of power in the Congo. The African neighbors constantly tried to steal the national resources of the people or influence the Congolese leaders. During the Civil Wars 1996- 1997 and 1998-2002 Turner points out neighboring African nation had serious consequences on stability of the fragmented country along with complete disregard of support of international help doomed the Congo region and its people. Turner does explain why American and the United Nation failed to act. Turner points blame at the Clinton administration suffering from ‘Somalia syndrome’ failed to recognize genocide, which would have required action. Turner also devotes an entire chapter to the failure or incompetence of the UN.

Overall this book presents an African perspective to the Congo conflicts which most reader are unfamiliar and may find shocking. Turner does a valuable service in exposing many of the prejudices and racial conflicts and especially in showing how those prejudices were at least partly responsible for the tremendous loss of life. It also does a very good job of giving the reader a general history and glimpse into the culture of the Congo region. Turner’s chapter on changes required for Congo leaders, neighboring African states and the international community to bring about lasting peace and security is insightful. However Turner admits even with these recommendations that it is up the Congolese to solve the daunting problems themselves. Despite Turners main fault the Congo Wars Conflict Myth Reality is an excellent book about the Congo in general or even about atrocities and war crimes themselves.