South Africa illustrates a case of relative success in the use of economic sanctions. When positive sanctions in the form of the Reagan administration’s “constructive engagement" policy failed to work, the U.S. Congress approved harsh sanctions against South Africa’s apartheid regime in 1986, over a presidential veto. Under the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act, the United States joined with other countries and the United Nations, which had already imposed economic sanctions. In 1992, the white-controlled South African regime announced a political opening that led to the end of apartheid and majority rule. Most commentators conclude that sanctions probably had an important effect on the regime to change policy. In fact, the 19905 has been referred to as the sanctions decade.