This book provides an empirically based theoretical examination of the internal political and economic institutional failures that have arisen in the Democratic Republic of Congo since its independence in 1960. It provides a contextual analysis of the country's socio-economic problems, and the military conflicts that perpetuate domestic and foreign exploitation of the DRCs rich mineral resources. By using various political and economic theories, this book looks to evaluate current development strategies for the developing economic 'South', and analyze the reasons why for all its natural wealth, the Democratic Republic of Congo is currently a failing state, with an appalling human rights record and absence of any tangible socio-economic infrastructure. From this, there will be an analysis of the potential politico-economic strategic objectives the DRC can implement to begin its path to sustainable human and economic development.