Special Seminar: Maurice Carney, "Exploiting the Congo: How the Quest for Resources Continues to Drive Decades of Violent Conflict in the Age of Technology"

Speaker Bio

Maurice Carney, executive director of Friends of Congo. possesses two bachelor's degrees and a master's degree and is pursuing a Ph.D. in political science. He has worked with civic associations in West Africa, providing training on research methodology and surveys. He served as the interim Africa working group coordinator for Rev. Jesse Jackson when he served as Special Envoy to Africa. Carney has worked as a research analyst for the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and as a research consultant for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

About the Seminar

Resource exploitation and/or extractivism is a hallmark of modern Congo history. The country was designed for extraction and exploitation by European powers coming out of the Berlin Conference of 1884/85. European geographers of this era, described Congo - the big swath of land, the size of Western Europe in the heart of Africa - as a geological scandal because it was so spectacularly endowed with natural wealth. In many respects, Congo offers the quintessential lens through which much of the African continent can be viewed, only that Congo represents the extremes both in tragedy and potential.

The country was designed for extraction; rubber and ivory in the late 1800s to copper, uranium, diamonds, and cobalt throughout the 20th century and in the 21st century, coltan, tin, gold, cobalt and more. The main constant for the past 130 plus years is the intractability of the original colonial blueprint of extraction and exploitation.

The presentation will cover this history, explore contemporary extractivism, and delve into its role and relevance to the green energy transition. The Congolese people are at the center of this epic drama. They have unceasingly strived to overturn this cruel system that has been imposed on them by outsiders. The presentation will conclude by highlighting Congolese agency and resilience. It will offer concrete ways in which people of goodwill throughout the globe can serve as allies and be in solidarity with Congolese who are waging a dignified struggle for a free and liberated Congo and Africa.

Register for the Zoom link.

This event is organized by GEOG’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism (DEIAR) Committee.