Africa After 1945
Uploaded by CaseyP on Aug 20, 2016
Apartheid and International Sanctions
Name
Institution
Part 1
1. One reason Reagan thinks economic sanction is a bad idea is that many black workers would lose their jobs. Most of these black workers are the family breadwinners. The suffering will not only affect the employees but even the rest of the blacks in the society. The sanctions will also cripple the economy of South Africa and that of its neighbors. For example, countries like Zambia and Zaire depend on South Africa for electricity. If sanctions are to pass, a country like Zaire will be out of power, which means a crippling of its economy. Further, leaving of Western investors will leave South African proprietors inheriting farms, factories, plants, and mines at a fire sale price. Finally, the sanctions would tarnish America's flexibility, destroy the diplomatic advantage, and increase the crisis in South Africa.
2. It is true that prosperity brings racial progress because as everyone secures employment, their standards of living rises, which calls for a need to deal with racial inequality issue. He also fails to mention that capitalism will help blacks earn at least a small wage and few other benefits, while the high gainers will be those at the very top.
3. The government according to him should eliminate apartheid laws, release political prisoners like Nelson Mandela, and allow black political movements. The steps are essential in ending apartheid as they encourage healing and peaceful co-existence that are crucial to putting an end to the policy. The blacks needed their voice heard, but blocking their movements prevented it, leading to violence. The positive changes would see both opposing sides engage in a healing process, giving each person in South Africa the freedom they all seek.
4. According to Reagan, Soviet Union installed a client regime in Angola, supplied it with weapons to fight black liberation movement, which demanded representation of Angolans in their parliament. The situation in Cuba is similar to that in South Africa since both involve non-observance of some human rights. Just as the blacks in South Africa suffered from apartheid, U.S citizens suffered due to Fidel Castro’s actions. The Cuba sanctions led to the suffering of Americans just as blacks living in S.A would have suffered due to Western sanctions.
Part 2
1. According to Wolpe, constructive engagement has given apartheid a sense of legitimacy, leading to increased sufferings among the colored and Indians in South Africa. It also gives...