Reflections on the Effectiveness of Targeted Sanctions in the Case of Fiji

Following a military coup in 2006 the Pacific island-nation of Fiji has become an increasingly autocratic state. The international community has responded by imposing sanctions against Fiji. These sanctions are mainly targeted sanctions consisting of visa bans and restriction on financial flows, as well as diplomatic sanction, which aim to force the Fijian regime to hold elections and return the country to democratic rule. While it is impossible to predict the outcome of such sanctions, it is still interesting to observe which factors have an effect on the success of sanctions and how these factors apply to the case of Fiji. The thesis finds that several factors which influence the effectiveness of sanctions are significant in the case of Fiji. While travel sanctions may be mostly symbolic, the financial sanctions imposed may have more direct effects on the Fijian economy and hamper the regime’s ability to uphold power. The difficulty of the policy goal sought by the sanctioners and the authoritarian character of the regime may be hinders to sanctions success, while the up until now mostly friendly relationship between Fiji and its sanctioners might be conducive to concession