Abstract: | The international debate on economic sanctions against South Africa centres on the desirability and efficacy of imposing such measures. Criteria for the debate involve considerations of morality, politics and economics. This article centres on the legality of imposing economic sanctions against Pretoria in contemporary international law. It examines whether or not a State is legally permitted, in the absence of an order of the United Nations Security Council, to impose economic sanctions against South Africa. After concluding that the persistent violations by South Africa of its legal obligations constitute a flagrant disregard for international law, the paper examines economic sanctions under general international law and under specific international law (commercial treaties). The conclusion is that, since there is no rule of international law to prohibit the application of economic measures against South Africa, no State may claim a legal barrier as justification for not imposing comprehensive economic sanctions against South Africa. Notes, ref. |