ABSTRACT
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a country of contrast and diversity. Dense tropical forest covers roughly half of the territory, and savannah covers the other half. Ecologically and culturally, the lush green mountains in the eastern part of the country are worlds away from the narrow Atlantic coast in the western part and the southern copper belt area. There are also striking imbalances with respect to population density and demographic distribution. The daily lives of rural people are much different from those of the city dwellers of Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Kisangani, and Goma because of disproportionate access to infrastructure, administration, basic services, and entertainment. Although the traditional versus modern cleavage is becoming increasingly obscure, it still infl uences how people live in the present and perceive their future. The gap between political, economic, and military elites and ordinary citizens is vast, although their destinies are entwined.
