I rang my friend Jim Wolfensohn, who was then running a…
“I rang my friend Jim Wolfensohn, who was then running a private commercial bank in New York. I said, "Come up to Vancouver", and he did. I put my proposition to him. He said, "I think it could work." I said, "Will you help us?" He said, "Yes." So, I set aside senior people in our treasury and they worked with Wolfensohn and the investment sanctions were applied. And that's what brought the regime down. The last South African Finance Minister, Barend du Plessis, went on record as saying that it was the investment sanctions that put the final nail in the coffin of apartheid.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Strategic use of financial pressure can dismantle oppressive regimes, showing power of coordinated economic action.
In simple terms: Sanctions helped end apartheid.
Key Takeaway
Use economic leverage for change.
Themes
politics
activism
economic strategy
Mood
historical
strategic
Type
political
inspirational
When to use this quote
- government policy
- international diplomacy
- human rights campaigns
Key Concepts
sanctions
financial pressure
regime change
Questions to Reflect On
- How can sanctions be targeted to minimize collateral damage?
- What alternative tools complement economic pressure?
A Different Perspective
Sanctions may harm civilians.