Rwanda, Inc.: How a Devastated Nation Became an Economic Model for the Developing World

by Patricia Crisafulli, Andrea Redmond

Overview

Nearly two decades after Rwanda's horrific genocide, the country has been transformed. High rises are going up in the capital city of Kigali; a newly established stock exchange is attracting investors; and the economy is transitioning from subsistence agriculture to information and communication technology. In pursuit of the alchemy that made Rwanda such an unlikely success story, Patricia Crisafulli and Andrea Redmond interviewed Rwandan government officials, including current president Paul Kagame, as well as business leaders, foreign investors, NGOs, and everyday civilians. In Rwanda, Inc. they look at the key factors that allowed this tiny country to beat the odds—including Rwanda's efforts to encourage private sector development and foster entrepreneurship, and how Kagame's unique leadership approach led to gains in health, education, and food sustainability. They also explore what the future holds for this resilient nation, and the steps it's taking to develop the next generation of public servants. With so many eyes on Africa as nations rebuild in the wake of the Arab Spring, this is a timely and fascinating look at what other emerging democracies can learn from Rwanda's triumph.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781137278951
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	02/04/2014
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Patricia Crisafulli is the author of the New York Times bestseller, The House of Dimon. She lives in Chicago, IL.

Andrea Redmond is the co-author with Patricia Crisafulli of Comebacks , which won a Gold Medal in the 2011 Axiom Business Book Awards. She lives in Chicago, IL.

Editorial Reviews

In Rwanda, Inc., Crisafulli and Redmond recount the rise of an unyielding people and their chief executive, President Paul Kagame. The Rwandans, rallying around their national pride, have built predictable systems that reward enterprise and hard work, and created an exceptional blueprint for other developing countries.” —President Bill Clinton

“Crisafulli and Redmond investigate the Rwandan renaissance, focusing on ‘Rwanda's CEO,' Paul Kagame…a fascinating portrait of a nation and a president at a pivotal moment in history.” —Publishers Weekly

“An instructive snapshot of Rwanda today.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Rwanda is the most amazing story in Africa—the fastest rate of poverty reduction ever achieved on the continent, despite huge handicaps of history and geography. Yet until now, these achievements have largely been missed by the outside world. This book will awaken you to Africa's most extraordinary phoenix.” —Paul Collier, author of The Bottom Billion

“Andrea Redmond and Patricia Crisafulli are known for their ability to connect with people, examine leadership skills and teach us through their compelling observations and insights. As advocates for the future of Rwanda, they are now telling a story that we can all benefit from hearing.” —Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO, JPMorgan Chase

“Rwanda Inc. documents this beautiful country's ongoing transformation through the lens of leadership, capturing the resilience of the human spirit and the potential for any country-or company-to chart an ambitious new course with ingenuity, collaboration, pragmatism and passion.” —Howard Schultz, chairman, president and chief executive officer, Starbucks

“In the 21st century, finding ways to transform poor countries may mean the difference between war and peace. Any country that can provide a model for how to make poor societies prosperous will contribute decisively to global stability. This book suggests Rwanda may be building that model. Rwanda Inc. is the story of the most exciting development project underway in the world today.” —Stephen Kinzer, author of A Thousand Hills

“Paul Kagame is one of my heroes and I believe should be recognized as a ‘Hero of the World'. He has led Rwanda out of the most hellish nightmare one can imagine, into the daylight of national reconciliation and the formation of a democracy. This is a story that can become a model for the entire African continent.” —James Sinegal, Co-Founder & Director, Costco

“Rwanda has achieved a remarkable turnaround, from the poster child of despair to symbol of progress, in less than 20 years. The unique leadership attributes of Rwandan President Kagame and his drive for broad-based economic growth continue to move the country forward. Rwanda today is inclusive, focuses on reconciliation, empowers women, decentralizes government, and involves the community in rebuilding—for the benefit of all. This is why Marriott wants to do business in Rwanda. Here, Crisafulli and Redmond tell this turnaround story brilliantly.” —Arne M. Sorenson, President & Chief Executive Officer, Marriott International, Inc.

“By adopting an approach of 'trade not aid,' our company has developed a sustainable multi-million-dollar business relationship with Rwanda since 2005. Our beautiful, handmade Path to Peace baskets, sold in Macy's stores and on macys.com, help hundreds of widows of the genocide support themselves and their families. In Rwanda, Inc., Patricia Crisafulli and Andrea Redmond outline how President Kagame rebuilt the Rwandan nation in a manner that encouraged business collaboration and projects like Path to Peace at Macy's. In the process, what was a tragedy has become a story of inspiration and hope, with all of the women of Rwanda working side by side.” —Terry J. Lundgren, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Macy's, Inc.

From the Publisher

A mostly optimistic assessment of the small East African nation nearly destroyed by genocide during the first half of the 1990s. Crisafulli and Redmond (co-authors: Comebacks: Powerful Lessons from Leaders Who Endured Setbacks and Recaptured Success on Their Terms, 2010) focus on the post-genocide presidency of Paul Kagame, a Rwandan native who grew up as an exile in Uganda and returned to his homeland as the leader of military rebels hoping to restore unity. Kagame is not portrayed as completely flawless, but nearly so. He earns accolades from the authors, who have traveled extensively in Rwanda, for helping to heal the nation after a million or more deaths due to hostility between the Hutus and the Tutsis. Crisafulli and Redmond depict Kagame running Rwanda more or less like the powerful, benevolent CEO of a major corporation. Improvements in poverty levels, education, health and electrification are impressive by any measure, although the country has a long way to go before the majority of its residents can be called prosperous. The authors suggest that an apt comparison can be found in South Korea, which developed quickly once its citizenry expressed the desire for change and identified appropriate leaders. This comparison would be more persuasive if the authors' discussion of Rwandan development depended less on generalities. However, a few specific examples resonate strongly, such as the story of a Westerner who studied the coffee trade in Rwanda and found a way to increase exports while improving the lot of local coffee growers. According to Rwanda's new constitution, Kagame must surrender the presidency after serving two electoral terms. The authors say they believe he will step aside peacefully in 2017 because of his love for the nation. Despite an occasionally confusing narrative structure, the authors provide an instructive snapshot of Rwanda today.

Kirkus Reviews