Abstract taken from Dissertation Abstracts International, vol 49, no. 02, August 1988, p. 340-A:
This thesis examines the role the United Nations has played in trying to bring an end to apartheid. It focuses on the actions which have been taken by two of its principal organs, the General Assembly and the Security Council from 1946 to 1985. It analyzes the pertinent resolutions on the subject as well as the relevant debates which have taken place in the United Nations. It also considers in detail the principle of domestic jurisdiction enshrined in Article 2, paragraph 7, of the Charter and how it has been interpreted in relation to South Africa's racial policies. An inquiry into the positions and strategies of the major blocs within the Organization is also undertaken
In tracing the evolution of the U. N. 's approach to the issue, the main hypothesis is that it has gone through three stages: Stage One: 1946 - 1961: Policy of Conversion; Stage Two: 1962 - 1972: Policy of Ostracism, and Stage Three: 1973 - 1985: Policy of Compulsion. Although each of these periods is characterized by a distinct policy, these three policis are not mutually exclusive
It concludes that the United Nations has made certain contributions to the international anti-apartheid campaign. The United Nations has ensured that the issue remains high on the international agenda and has contributed to a changed philosophical climate within which it is discussed. Furthermore, in doing so it has made several innovations in Public Relations techniques. It has established standards as to what is and what is not acceptable conduct by national governments in regard to human rights in general and in their racial policies in particular. In the future the thrust of the anti-apartheid campaign within the United Nations will continue to be directed towards getting the Security Council to impose mandatory and comprehensive sanctions against South Africa. However, the possibility of achieving this depends to a large extent on the attitude of the permanent members of the Security Council, in particular the United States, the United Kingdom and France