Keyword: Sanctions

Sanctions

In international relations, sanctions are one way that foreign governments and international organizations try to influence the actions of a particular country. Trade sanctions, for example, prevent a country from exchanging goods - or trading - with others. In theory, this can reduce the amount of money and goods available within that country.

Beginning in the 1960s, the United Nations took measures to pressure South Africa’s white-minority government to end Apartheid rule. In 1963, for example, the UN Security Council established a voluntary arms embargo (or ban) against South Africa. In 1977, following the Soweto Uprising, the UN made this arms embargo mandatory in an attempt to limit weaponry used in the violent struggle.

Culture sanctions prevented South African sports teams from participating in international events, while individual groups, such as the British Anti-Apartheid Movement, boycotted South African goods like fruit and wine.

In practice, the impact of UN sanctions was limited. Though South Africa’s policy of Apartheid was widely considered reprehensible, it was difficult to get all countries to abide by UN mandates. As a result, South Africa was able to maintain a relatively strong economy into the 1980s, despite the sanctions. In the 1980s, however, more national governments began to take steps to increase economic pressure on South Africa’s government.

In 1986, the United States Congress passed the U.S. Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act, which, among other things, placed limits on American corporate investment in South Africa, which, is commonly believed to be a major fact in bringing an end to Apartheid rule.