From Blood Diamonds to the Kimberley Process: How NGOs Cleaned Up the Global Diamond Industry

Through news reports and the film Blood Diamond most people are aware of the trade in diamonds in order to support military conflict. Far fewer know that this trade has been tremendously curtailed by an international, non-governmental group. Bieri, of the University of Maryland, University College Europe, Germany, presents the process by which NGOs and the diamond industry managed to set up a tripartite forum, known as the Kimberly Process, through which diamonds could be certified and tracked. The way in which the process was established, with some early glitches, is detailed, particularly in creating an organization that is endorsed but not administered by the United Nations. The fact that the rotating chairmanship moved from Ottawa to Moscow with no trouble is proof of the success of the Kimberly Process. This is a well-written, inspiring report. The story of diverse groups working together to stop an evil practice deserves to be given as much publicity as the practice itself. It could be a gripping movie. Annotation c2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Franziska Bieri, Adjunct Professor, University of Maryland University College Europe, Germany