ABSTRACT
The Arab oil weapon of 1973-74 was seen when it occurred as a turning point of some sort in international affairs. It thus inspired a considerable literature, both at the time and since, so much that one may reasonably ask what can be added at this late date. It is clear that there were in fact several different actor governments and that, while policy was certainly co-ordinated, it was not made and executed from a single command centre. These governments differed among themselves in decision-making structures and policy attitudes; there were also some very strong historical enmities. Two different kinds of sanctions were applied. The first was an embargo, totally cutting off exports of oil to certain countries. In mid-October all ten actor governments embargoed the United States. The Netherlands was embargoed at the end of the month, and Portugal, Rhodesia and South Africa were added to the list as well.
