What are Sanctions?

Sanctions are a quasi-legal tool imposed for a variety of reasons to delay, advance or stop something altogether.

Sanctions are punitive economic or political penalties imposed by countries or international bodies (like the UN) to pressure a target (nation, group, or individual) to change behavior, punish violations of international norms (like human rights abuses or aggression), or achieve foreign policy goals, short of military force. They work by restricting trade, freezing assets, blocking financial transactions, or imposing travel bans to create costs for the target, with modern "smart sanctions" often focusing on specific individuals or sectors rather than entire populations. 

How Sanctions Work

• Coercive Tool: Sanctions are a middle ground between diplomacy and war, aiming to compel or deter undesirable actions by disrupting economic activity.
• Targets: Can be broad (a country like Cuba) or narrow (specific individuals, companies, or sectors, known as "smart sanctions")
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Imposers: Can be unilateral (one country) or multilateral (a group, like the UN or EU). 

Common Types of Sanctions

• Trade Restrictions: Embargoes (full bans) or limits on specific goods, like arms or technology.
• Financial Restrictions: Freezing assets, blocking property, limiting loans, or restricting access to financial markets.
• Travel Bans: Denying visas or restricting movement for certain individuals.
• Sectoral Sanctions: Targeting key industries, like energy or finance. 

Why They're Used

• Deterring aggression: Preventing nuclear proliferation or conflict.
• Improving human rights: Pressuring states to stop violations.
• Combating terrorism/crime: Cutting off funding and support networks.
• Enforcing international law: Responding to violations of norms. 

Examples & Enforcement

• US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC): A key US agency that enforces sanctions.
• UN Security Council: Authorizes sanctions regimes against threats to international peace.
• Examples: Sanctions on Russia, North Korea, Iran, and Cuba illustrate their use against various threats.