video record
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Description
This programme examines the domestic pressures that shaped Britain's decision to impose and maintain economic sanctions against Rhodesia.
Metadata describing this Open University video programme
Module code and title: D233, World politics
Item code: D233; 05
First transmission date: 02-06-1981
Published: 1981
Rights Statement:
Restrictions on use:
Duration: 00:24:45
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Producer: Carol Haslam
Contributor: James: Snelling, Arthur: Bottomley, Arthur: Wilson, Harold: Bailey, Martin: Smith, Ian: Owen, David Barber
Publisher: BBC Open University
Keyword(s): Economic sanctions; Politics; Rhodesia
Footage description: Archive film of people listening to Ian Smith's Declaration of Independence in Salisbury. James Barber describes the British response to U.D.I. Archive film of Harold Wilson in a broadcast to the nation explaining the government's decision to impose economic sanctions. James Barber introduces the proposition the programme will consider; that Foreign policy is more responsive to the internal dynamics of decision-making than to the external problems on which it is supposed to centre. Sir Arthur Snelling, former official at the Commonwealth Office, explains why economic sanctions, rather than military intervention, were chosen as a policy instrument. Arthur Bottomley, Commonwealth secretary 1965, explains why he accepted the arguments against using force and how the Cabinet was split on this issue. Jim Barber lists some of the different interests and perceptions that have been identified in the programme and their different objectives for which the sanctions were to be employed. These were, to achieve change in Rhodesia, defend the position of the British government, to symbolise opposition to racist rule and to preserve international order. Harold Wilson argues that, he was not trying to remove Ian Smith; the object of the sanctions was to change the minds of the Rhodesians. Shots of the Commonwealth conference at Lagos 1966. Harold Wilson describes how he got his information about the effectiveness of sanctions. Arthur Bottomley argues that his department provided Wilson with more accurate information but he chose to ignore it. Martin Bailey describes Wilson's preference for convenient advice and argues that he may only have used sanctions as a means of deflecting Black African opinion. Sir Arthur Snelling argues that Wilson's cabinet was naive about what it could achieve. It also received conflicting advice from different departments which reflected the interests of the individual departments. Martin Bailey explains how different civil service departments dealt with the problems of oil sanctions. James Barber discusses the problem of departmental influence. Arthur Bottomley describes the opposition to sanctions maintained by the Department of Trade. James Barber argues that Wilson's decisions about sanctions must also have been influenced by domestic political considerations and the mood of public opinion. Archive shots of demonstrations against the Rhodesian regime. Shots of food in supermarket in Rhodesia. Ian Smith argues that in the first years sanctions provided a boost to the economy. Sam Levy, a Rhodesian businessman, describes how he is profiting from sanctions (Panorama, 28.11.66). David Owen explains how he saw the function of sanctions in 1977. James Barber sums up the programme and its findings in relation to the earlier proposition about the responsiveness of Foreign policy.
Master spool number: OU3512
Production number: FOUD143T
Videofinder number: 117
Available to public: no