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Coltan (PRS - Polity Resources series)

Coltan (PRS - Polity Resources series)

by Michael Nest (Author)

  • New

    Paperback 2011

    $23.26

  • New

    Hardcover 2011

    $61.72
Synopsis

A decade ago no one except geologists had heard of tantalum or'coltan' - an obscure mineral that is an essential ingredient inmobile phones and laptops. Then, in 2000, reports began to leak outof Congo: of mines deep in the jungle where coltan was extracted inbrutal conditions watched over by warlords. The United Nations senta team to investigate, and its expos of the relationshipbetween violence and the exploitation of coltan and other naturalresources contributed to a re-examination of scholarship on themotivations and strategies of armed groups.

The politics of coltan encompass rebel militias, transnationalcorporations, determined activists, Hollywood celebrities, the riseof China, and the latest iGadget. Drawing on Congolese and activistvoices, Nest analyses the two issues that define coltan politics: the relationship between coltan and violence in the Congo, andcontestation between activists and corporations to reshape theglobal tantalum supply chain. The way production and trade ofcoltan is organised creates opportunities for armed groups, but theCongo wars are not solely, or even primarily, about coltan orminerals generally. Nest argues the political significance ofcoltan lies not in its causal link to violence, but in activists'skillful use of mobile phones as a symbol of how ordinary peopleand transnational corporations far from Africa are implicated inCongo's coltan industry and therefore its conflict. Nest examinesthe challenges coltan initiatives face in an activist 'marketplace'crowded with competing justice issues, and identifies lessons fromcoltan initiatives for the geopolitics of global resources moregenerally.

$23.26

Quantity

10 in stock

More Information

Format: Paperback
 Pages: 200
 Publisher: Polity Press
Published: 04 Mar 2011
ISBN 10: 0745649327
ISBN 13: 9780745649320

Media Reviews
A clear, thorough and urgent contribution to our understanding of what's going on - and, hopefully, to the campaign to end it. New Internationalist Carefully researched, clearly written, and of perfect length. It thus deserves a large audience from people in search of information about the Congo, coltan, resource exploitation, or global political economic connections. African Affairs Both a convenient reference source for the statistics in the first chapter and also extremely handy for reading at leisure - 10/10. Materials World Nest describes in fascinating detail the relationships between the different rebel groups in Congo and coltan. [His] is a very valuable analysis, which will be of wide general appeal to Africanists and others interested in the politics of natural resources. It would also be particularly suitable for use in undergraduate classes as a case study. African Studies Quarterly An excellent discussion of the causes of uncontrolled actors in the mining industry and the problems of establishing a system to bring accountability to the users of minerals. Choice I could not put it down - the subject matter challenged my ethics in ways I had never imagined possible. Africa on the Blog One of the most fascinating books I read this year. A must-read for anyone interested in conflict minerals or advocacy in general as it points to both successes and failures in the DRC-focused movement. Texas in Africa This book's treatment of the topic will be a major advancement in exposing the illegal coltan trade, and contributes to a broader understanding of how the global mining sector is changing as China carves out an increasingly dominant role and how natural resources continue to destablize parts of the world. Ian Taylor, University of St Andrews In this excellent book Michael Nest examines whether the cycles of violence in an impoverished region are caused by the behaviour of wealthy consumers. Are we as users of mobile telephones fuelling a terrible war? Nest provides a highly informative account, challenging commonly held views and presenting the facts in a lively and accessible manner. Anke Hoeffler, University of Oxford In this brilliant primer, Nest demonstrates that coltan is only one source among many of the conflicts in Congo. He ably gets behind the headlines and NGO press releases to uncover the real and lasting role that this key resource has played in Congo's unending struggles. John F. Clark, Florida International University
Author Bio
Michael Nest is an independent scholar working on governance and development issues related to natural resources. His previous book was on the economic dimensions of the Congo War.