'Honoured more in the breach than in the observance' : economic sanctions on Rhodesia and international response, 1965 to 1979

Abstract

The United Nations Security Council passed a series of resolutions condemning Rhodesia’s unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) in 1965, culminating in Resolution 253 of 1968 imposing comprehensive mandatory international sanctions on Rhodesia. With a few exceptions, notably South Africa and Portugal, most member states supported the resolution and pledged their commitment to uphold and enforce the measures. Yet, most countries, including those at the forefront of imposing sanctions against Rhodesia, broke sanctions or did little to enforce them. An examination of the records of the Security Council Committee Established in Pursuance of Resolution 253 (1968) Concerning the Question of Southern Rhodesia (the Sanctions Committee) shows that sanctions against Rhodesia were honoured more in the breach than in the observance.