GPPi Research Associate publishes book on smart sanctions against Angola and the DR Congo

GPPi Research Associate Kai Koddenbrock recently published Smart Sanctions against Failed States: Strengthening the State through UN Smart Sanctions in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The book provides a fresh look on sanctions as a state-building instrument and is available for purchase in the US, in the UK and in Germany .

Smart sanctions have been a frequent but supposedly ineffective UN instrument in conflict resolution since the end of the Cold War. The logic behind most sanctions regimes implies that consolidated states, like Iran or North Korea pursuing questionable policies, will be weakened. This book illustrates, by contrast, how smart sanctions can be used to strengthen 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 sales of natural resource and foreign support. The author analyzes 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. 

Koddenbrock 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. While this tactic worked in Angola it failed to achieve similar results in the Democratic Republic of Congo.