"Clark has provided us with a sure-footed account of Congolese politics, a carefully considered discussion of the most important factors determining the failure of Congolese democratization efforts, a perceptive critique of the ways that the complexities of such processes elude current scholarship on democratization, and a useful guidepost to promising directions of future research."—Nelson Kasfir, Perspectives on Politics

"Both refreshing and timely.... Clark's agency-structure "pendulum" approach lends itself to some superb analyses.... Without question his work will appeal to social scientists for its rigorous analyses and to policymakers for its practical findings."—Ch. Didier Gondola, African Studies Review

"An] excellent analysis.... Clark does a good job of disentangling the country's complicated ethnic divisions and shifting ethnic alliances." —Nicolas van de Walle, Foreign Affairs

"In seeking answers to a single, not-so-simple question—why has Congo's democratic experiment since the 1990s failed?—Clark sets a high standard for qualitative social science research into structural and agency dynamics.... Highly recommended."—Choice

"Clark provides one of the most detailed and theoretically informed accounts of recent Congolese politics of any that can be found. He also brings a welcome new realism to the study of democracy."—William S. Reno, Northwestern University

"This valuable study not only chronicles one of the most interesting examples of 'democratic failure' in Africa, but also provides insight into the politics of one of the less well known, but strategically important, African states."—Victor T. Le Vine, Washington University in St. Louis