The Conditions Of Economic Sanctions Against South Africa Work Of The European Community

As a method to realize diplomatic goals, economic sanction plays a more important role in dealing with international affairs. However, the success rate is still quite low. Therefore, great efforts are needed to avoid failures of economic sanction, which is not easy to take effect. Therefore, it is significant in practice and theory to study economic sanction taking effect when it is frequently applied nowadays. Through case study, this thesis argues the success of econo- mic sanctions applied by European Union on South Africa.South Africa is located in the farthest south of Africa. However, for a long time South Africa is isolated from international community not because of its geographic location but the racial separation policy by its government. The white people of South Africa authority regard racial separation as the key to maintain the rule of white people and promote economic development of the country. Such policy against human rights results in economic sanction lasting over 30 years from 1960's to 1990's by international community. Especially, the overall sanction by the European Union in the middle of 1980's contributes a lot to the final success of such a long-lasting economic sanction.The 30-year long economic sanction by international community on South Africa meets great difficulties during the implement. However, from the case we find that no matter how great the difficulties, possibility of reform is brought to the object of sanctions, the key of which are certain conditions beneficial for economic sanctions to take effect. This thesis just talks about these conditions and introduces the whole process of economic sanction by the European Union taking effect. These conditions include: the overall sanction by the European Union in 1986 on South Africa. Compared with the previous economic sanction by international community mainly including oil and weapon embargo, the European Union forbids its member countries to import gold, iron, steel, uranium, coal and other minerals and goods such as textiles and agricultural products. Such measures greatly damage the economy of South Africa. Meanwhile, economic decline of South Africa since 1980's, rebellions by the black people, split up of the ruling white people, significant changes of international political climate, the formation of international alliance against the South Africa and such factors have played a very important role to the success of economic sanction by the European Union on South Africa, which was finally forced to give the racial separation policy and begin to reform and accept democracy.