CHAPTER SIX: The World of the 1990s

Using the Perspectives

Sources:
No author. 2008. "What next? A range of possibilities remains open to the world." The Sydney Morning Herald. June 25, 2008 http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/what-next-a-range-of-possibilities-remains-open-to-the-world/2008/06/24/1214073247308.html

Beeston, Richard. 2008. "Zimbabwe's collapse is no longer question of if, but when." Times Online. June 23, 2008. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article4193365.ece

In late June of 2008, Morgan Tsvangirai's pulled out of the presidential race in Zimbabwe to challenge Mr. Mugabe's corrupt regime. As reporter Richard Beeston of the The Times reports,

          "the former union boss [Tsvangirai] has suffered arrest and beatings at the hands of his rival. His supporters have been           murdered, arrested and tortured. Many wanted him to continue the fight until election day on Friday, but he reached the           conclusion that staying in the presidential race would only lead to more bloodshed."

The international community is hesitant to intervene militarily. One strategy of states who are frustrated with Mugabe's rule is to make Zimbabwe a pariah state by refusing to recognize his rule in international conferences and settings, increase sanctions, etc.

The Sydney Morning Herald outlined a variety of strategies open to the International community. Two of which are mediation and economic sanctions. Mediation is the "most likely short-term response from the African Union and the Southern African Development Community." The Sydney Morning Herald editorialist noted that mediation missions led by Kofi Annan of the United Nations were resisted by Mugabe. The EU and US have looked at sanctions such as travel bans and freezes on assets against Mugabe and the leadership in his party ZANU-PF. "Sanctions being proposed would use more creative ways of tracking down their money, using investigative accounting methods the US has developed in pursuit of Mafia and al-Qaeda funds. An effort will also be made to eject the children of the elite from their places at Western schools and universities."

1. Which perspective(s) is associated with the above strategy?
     

Many have called for a stronger response. In terms of peacekeeping, "Kenya and Tanzania raised the possibility of sending in African Union peacekeepers before Tsvangirai decided at the weekend to withdraw from the presidential run-off. The opposition has also called for a peacekeeping operation." The same article noted that "the situation in Zimbabwe and its effects on its neighbors would have to get much worse before [military intervention] was considered."

2.  What role would the peacekeepers play? Is this a good strategy? Why or why not?
     

3.  Why would the international community wait for the situation to worsen before using military force?
     

4.  How does the norm of sovereignty apply to this situation?     
     

5.  Should the international community's commitment to democracy outweigh concerns about state sovereignty?