CONTEMPORARY WORLD HISTORY ESSAY – MIA BURGENER

RESEARCH QUESTION:

To what extent did the influences of Cold War politics and America’s foreign policy result in the state
collapse of the Democratic Republic of the Congo under the presidency of Mobutu Se Sseko?

THESIS STATEMENT:

The state collapse of the Democratic Republic of Congo through Mobutu Se Sseko’s dictatorship was
largely due to Americas Foreign Policy, which, based on Cold War politics continued to support
Sseko’s leadership as a means to retaining the country under Capitilist sphere of influence despite
the countries downward economic spiral.

INTRODUCTION:

The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the greatest examples of a country irrevocably
destroyed by various forms of imperialism: controlled by Belgium, burnt by civil war and held
hostage by the dictatorship of Mobutu Se Sseko whose tyranny was supported by the US
superpower during the Cold War.

BODY:

Lumumba’s assassination and the CIA’s role in the Kinshasa political scene

This paragraph will focus on the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, who had a large role in the
events of resurrecting the Congo post- Belgium occupation. Therefore, the focus will be on the
attempts of true liberation by Lumumba and the involvement of the CIA to supress this liberation
attempt to adequately set the scene for Mobutu Se Sseko’s seizure of power.

The Mobutu – Washington Alliance as the birth of Americas involvement in the Congo:

America only became involved in the Congo during Mobutu Se Sseko’s coup in November of 1965.
This begins the relationship of the two as America here recognizes the fortuitous opportunity to
form a strong relationship with a pro-capitalist leader of a country right in the heart of Africa. This
strategy to secure a loyal elite in Congo pursuit based on Cold War aims ties strongly to America’s
foreign policy, despite there being no direct Communist threat of the country.

‘Technological imperialism’

Washington’s role in Mobutu’s economic initiative contributed to the Congo’s economic collapse.
Western firms funded large prestige projects and infrastructure without ensuring their long-term
viability. This continues with the American government’s continued support of Mobutu’s
dictatorship, with Washington’s continued bailing out of the country despite the huge spending of
the dictator. This paragraph focuses on the funding both by western firms and America that allowed
for the ‘State Kleptocracy’ under Sseko’s presidency.

Mobutu or Chaos

This was an argument used to justify America’s support of the dictatorship of Mobutu Se Sseko.
Mobutu or Chaos was used to justify America’s backing of Mobutu despite the crashing economic
status of the country as the only option to prevent total chaos of the country, despite the
International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s appeal against continued support.
End of the Cold war resulting in the end of Americas support.

This paragraph concludes America’s role in the Congo on the basis of the end of the Cold War. With
a change in American foreign policy and the lack of an apparent Soviet threat, America could no
longer justify their involvement in the Congo which was now argued to be a ‘Failed Sate’.

CONCLUSION:

RESOURCES

‘Congo Cables’ by Stephen R Weissman

‘JFK: Ordeal In Africa’ by Richard Mahoney