Coercive Diplomacy And Totalitarian Regimes

This research analyzes the impact of sanctions on the democratization process of Zimbabwe arguing that sanctions have a negative effect on democratization and good governance. In order to understand the changing levels of democratization and centralization in Zimbabwe, the timeframe is divided into 3 main phases; 1980-1989, 1990-1999 and 2000-2010. Furthermore, this research argues that the unintended effects of sanctions have resulted in exacerbated totalitarianism as reflected by the internal and external strategies adopted by the government of Zimbabwe each time sanctions were tightened. These strategies have been guided by historical, cultural and societal factors such as the value attached to the country's history of colonialism, ideological differences of the concept of democracy, partocratic rule and the anti-westernization doctrine. The results of this research shows that sanctions provide an opportunity, justification and a fertile/conducive platform and environment for targeted governments to further oppress their citizenry. Targeted sanctions view themselves as countries fighting and defending themselves in a war despite the fact that some of their defense strategies may impact negatively on democracy. Through the use of the Freedom House democracy measurements index, in-depth interviews to the targeted senior government officials, questionnaires and observation methods, the findings of this research show that the impact, length and salience of economic sanctions on Zimbabwe continues to diminish the prospects of democracy. This study's conclusions and results seek to bring out the significant policy implications related to the utilization of sanctions as an apparatus for attaining the political freedoms of people and to reveal the unintended outcomes of sanctions. This research therefore proffers constructive engagement as opposed to the use of sanctions in order to resolve the Zimbabwean case by the Western states.