BOOK REVIEW KING LEOPOLD`S GHOST

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BOOKREVIEW: KING LEOPOLD’S GHOST

CourseName

‘KingLeopold’s Ghost’ is a story written to uncover the challengesthat the Africans in Congo faced during the leadership of KingLeopold II. The author, Adam Hochschild, uses different examples toenlighten the masses on the historical happenings which affecteddeleteriously the global interconnection in many parts of the world.Through this book, readers get to understand major historicalactivities in line with the foundation and growth of Congo as anation. The author remains firm in condemning the factors which werediscriminative in the ancient epoch and encourages people to reflectupon them as they struggle to attain new positive heights in life.Although many people suffered in the hands of the past dictatorialleaders, the author is positive that the contemporary alterations inleadership can lead to success and growth of many third worldnations.

MainArguments

Theprimary argument of the author revolves around theissuesthat sabotage the desired global cohesion amongst people living indiverse geographical locations. The author argues that leaders oughtto protect the wellbeing of every individual irrespective of theirdifferent nationalities. He pinpoints factors that led to the fall ofthe dominating European rule in many countries in Africa. It isessential to note that the problems which the Africans and otherpeople who were colonized by the European countries attracted theattention of missionaries and other human activists who were ready tosupport them¹.

Additionally,the writer mobilizes the masses to uplift cohesion and help anotherin their daily operations. In the book, the African slaves in Congowho were suffering on their homeland were reluctant to stand againstthe white rule. In most cases, the few who militarized theirassociates were arrested and tortured by the administration of KingLeopold II. However, the author reflects that through persistence andunity people can redeem themselves from policies that sideline theirinterests and pleas. For example, many women and children werecaptured to force the men on Congo to offer cheap labor in the farmsand mines which were managed by the whites. Similar activities whichundermined or rather tainted the true nature of human beings couldonly be squeezed if the oppressed masses were willing and ready toconquer the odds and remain united despite the strict milestones thatthey were facing.

Analysisof the Arguments

Thearguments of the writer are exposed vividly from the readings. Forinstance, he reveals how the effects of the world war interfered withthe missions of the human activists and missionaries who haddedicated their time and efforts to fight for the rights of theoppressed Africans. At this point, it can be proclaimed that thesituation would have been different if the masses in Congo and otherparts of Africa were united. It is essential to note that someAfrican had allied with the whites in Congo and they assisted them infighting those who were resisting the white rule².Some of them were spies, and they helped the government to arrest andambush African fighters.

Insummary, Hochschild deserves the praise directed to his work becausethe entire book condemns the regime of King Leopold II. Theatrocities subjected to the African in Congo during his rule exposeshow dictatorial leadership can affect the growth of any given nation.Furthermore, this book gives the readers the opportunity tounderstand how they can avoid similar situations in the currentepoch.

Bibliography

Hochschild,Adam. KingLeopold`s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in ColonialAfrica.Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1999.

1^ Hochschild, Adam. King Leopold`s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1999.

2^ Hochschild, Adam. King Leopold`s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1999.