Zambian Crisis Behavior: Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence

Abstract

This study of the behavior of Zambia's decision makers, confronted with the implications of Rhodesia's unilateral declaration of independence in November 1965, forms part of Michael Brecher's International Crisis Behavior Project and employs (with adaptations) his ICB framework. This article analyzes by period the critical situation Zambia faced, particularly as a result of its historical legacy of almost total dependency on Rhodesia for energy supplies and access to the sea for its copper exports. Next, it seeks to measure, by means of a content analysis of official statements, changes in crisis-induced stress over time in terms of the basic elements in Brecher's operational definition of a crisis. The paper then dissects the decision-making process with respect to one decision in one phase of the crisis in terms of the coping mechanisms employed. On the basis of this, certain tentative conclusions on Zambian crisis behavior are outlined. Finally, the attempt is made to set the Zambian case in the perspective of the wider ICB Project and of African foreign policy studies generally.