Smart Sanctions against Failed States

Smart sanctions have been a frequent but supposedlyineffective UN instrument of conflict resolutionsince the end of the Cold War. While most sanctionsthinking focuses on sanctions against consolidatedstates with unwanted governments, this bookillustrates how smart sanctionscan be used to prop up governments in failed statesin Sub-SaharanAfrica. These failed states are characterised by thelack of a monopoly on violence and plagued byrebellions which are largely financed through naturalresource sales and foreign support. The authoranalyses the sanctions regimes in Angolaand the Democratic Republic of Congo to gauge theirimpacton political support, supply structures and themilitary balance of the deadly conflicts there. Heargues that in particularthe advocacy component of smart sanctions regimes -the panel of expert reports and connected diplomaticactivities - is able to contribute to their success.Thanks to this component the ensemble of armsembargos, financial, travel and commodity sanctionscan play a crucial role in depriving the rebels offunds and means needed to sustain their rebellion.This may enable statehood to return.

Autorentext

is a Research Associate at the Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin and has worked as consultant for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Klappentext
Smart sanctions have been a frequent but supposedly ineffective UN instrument of conflict resolution since the end of the Cold War. While most sanctions thinking focuses on sanctions against consolidated states with unwanted governments, this book illustrates how smart sanctions can be used to prop up governments in failed states in Sub-Saharan Africa. These failed states are characterised by the lack of a monopoly on violence and plagued by rebellions which are largely financed through natural resource sales and foreign support. The author analyses the sanctions regimes in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo to gauge their impact on political support, supply structures and the military balance of the deadly conflicts there. He argues that in particular the advocacy component of smart sanctions regimes - the panel of expert reports and connected diplomatic activities - is able to contribute to their success. Thanks to this component the ensemble of arms embargos, financial, travel and commodity sanctions can play a crucial role in depriving the rebels of funds and means needed to sustain their rebellion. This may enable statehood to return.