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This paper examines in detail dynamics of corruption and regime stabilisation which define the shape of the oil sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This sector is a major source of patronage and rent-extraction. However, much of these rents are not created through production, but through selling access. Most potential fields remain unexplored and undeveloped, which is much more interesting for short-term rent extraction for the concerned actors. Within this, we demonstrate the political and social logics behind corruption. The regime distributes patronage by permitting rent extraction, but this extraction has limits, both in terms of volume and of visibility. Further, we note the importance of regime stability logics in the sector, specifically managing internal geopolitics, regional relationships, and central control over major wealth. By exploring in detail the practical realities discussed in general in the 'resource curse' and 'oil curse' literature, this paper provides a deeper understanding of how political control and corruption function within the DRC, and how development becomes their victim.

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Design for dependability has long been an important issue for computer systems. While several dependability analysis tools have been produced, no effort has been made to automate the design for dependability. This paper describes ASSURE, an automated design for dependability advisor, which is part of the MACON system for rapid prototyping of small computer systems. A design for dependability methodology and a formal interface between synthesis and dependability analysis are presented. ASSURE's operation includes dependability analysis, evaluation of dependability enhancement techniques using predictive estimation, and selection of a technique. Different kinds of knowledge used in designing for dependability are identified, including an algorithmic approach for dependability analysis and a knowledge-based approach for suggesting dependability enhancement techniques. Examples of designs produced using ASSURE as a dependability advisor are provided and show an order of magnitude dependability improvement.@ 1990 !EEE 0738-l 00X/90/0006/0555 $1 .OO