Economic Sanctions: Do They Work? Analysing Effectiveness and Consistency

Economic sanctions are among the most frequently employed tools of international diplomacy. They aim to influence the behaviour of states deemed to be violating international norms. While they seek to impose economic hardship without military conflict, their effectiveness, fairness, and humanitarian consequences are hotly debated.

The Purpose of Economic Sanctions

Sanctions are designed to exert economic pressure on states, organisations, or individuals to compel changes in behaviour. These measures range from trade restrictions to asset freezes and financial exclusions. While they can send strong signals of disapproval, their real-world outcomes are often inconsistent, especially when applied against resilient or authoritarian regimes.

Do Sanctions Achieve Their Goals?

Evidence suggests that sanctions rarely achieve their intended policy objectives. Instead, they often lead to unintended consequences, particularly for civilian populations.

Failures in Behaviour Change

Sanctions have failed to deter or reverse actions in several high-profile cases:

• North Korea: Despite decades of sanctions, North Korea continues to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
• Iran: Sanctions have inflicted economic pain but have not stopped Tehran’s uranium enrichment or regional influence campaigns.
• Cuba: The U.S. embargo on Cuba, in place since 1960, has not resulted in the regime change or political liberalisation its architects envisioned. Despite overwhelming votes in the?United Nations General Assembly urging the U.S. to lift its embargo—with 187 nations voting in favour in 2023—the sanctions remain firmly in place, reflecting the political influence of domestic U.S. policy over international consensus.
• Russia: Following its actions in Crimea in 2014 and the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has faced unprecedented sanctions. However, its economy has shown surprising resilience, bolstered by ties with China, India, and other nations willing to bypass Western restrictions.

Humanitarian Damage

Sanctions often disproportionately harm ordinary civilians rather than the political elites they target:

• Food and Medicine Shortages: In countries like Cuba, Iran, and Venezuela, sanctions have exacerbated shortages of basic goods, including food and life-saving medicines.
• Increased Poverty: By limiting economic opportunities and cutting off trade, sanctions deepen poverty and inequality, often leading to humanitarian crises.
• Social Unrest: Civilian suffering under sanctions can fuel discontent, but instead of destabilising regimes, this unrest often strengthens authoritarian control as governments blame external forces.

For example, Cuba’s decades-long embargo has devastated its economy, limiting access to critical resources, yet the regime remains in power. Similarly, sanctions on Iraq in the 1990s led to widespread malnutrition and the death of an estimated 500,000 children, a stark illustration of the collateral damage sanctions can cause.?

Inconsistencies in Sanctions Policy

One of the most contentious issues surrounding economic sanctions is their selective application, which undermines their legitimacy:

• Double Standards: Nations like Saudi Arabia, despite controversies over human rights violations, have largely escaped sanctions due to their strategic importance to the U.S. and its allies.
• Geopolitical Interests: Sanctions are often perceived as tools of Western hegemony rather than impartial international law enforcement. This perception is reinforced when smaller nations are punished while powerful allies are spared for similar infractions.
• Global Opposition: The annual UN General Assembly vote to lift U.S. sanctions on Cuba highlights the disconnect between global opinion and the actions of sanctioning nations. Despite near-universal condemnation, the embargo persists, raising questions about the fairness and effectiveness of such policies.

Anti-Sanction Alliances and the Rise of BRICS

As sanctions become increasingly weaponised in global politics, countries targeted by these measures are seeking alternatives. The rise of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and its expanding membership reflects a pushback against the dominance of Western sanctions.

Emerging Strategies

1. Economic Independence: BRICS nations are working to reduce reliance on Western-controlled financial systems like SWIFT. Initiatives to trade in local currencies are gaining traction, particularly among countries facing sanctions, such as Russia and Iran.
2. Membership Expansion: Nations targeted by sanctions, including Iran, have joined BRICS to strengthen economic and political cooperation.
3. De-dollarisation: By encouraging trade in local currencies and developing alternative financial systems, BRICS aims to mitigate the impact of U.S. sanctions tied to dollar-based transactions.

Examples of Resilience

• Russia?has pivoted to Asian markets, increasing energy exports to China and India while fostering closer ties within BRICS.
• Iran?has leveraged its membership in BRICS to counterbalance the economic effects of U.S. sanctions, particularly by strengthening trade with China and Russia.
• Cuba?continues to survive through support from allies and alternative trade routes, although its people bear the brunt of sanctions.

?The Case for Reform

Sanctions may still have utility as a diplomatic tool, but their overuse and selective application undermine their credibility and effectiveness. Moreover, their humanitarian toll raises ethical questions about their continued deployment.

Recommendations for Change

1. Multilateral Sanctions: Greater involvement of international bodies like the UN can ensure sanctions are applied consistently and reflect a broader consensus.
2. Humanitarian Exceptions: Sanctions should include clear exemptions to allow the flow of food, medicine, and essential goods to civilian populations.
3. Focus on Accountability: Instead of broad-based sanctions that harm civilians, targeted sanctions against elites and state actors may be more effective.

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Economic sanctions remain a powerful but flawed instrument of international diplomacy. While they can signal disapproval and isolate regimes, their ability to enforce behavioural change is inconsistent. The humanitarian consequences and selective application of sanctions further erode their legitimacy.

As nations band together to resist economic coercion, the rise of alternatives like BRICS signals a potential shift in the global order. This evolution challenges the dominance of traditional sanctioning powers and underscores the need for a more inclusive, equitable, and humane approach to addressing international conflicts. Only by addressing these challenges can sanctions truly serve as a force for global stability and justice.

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