Explore the effectiveness of sanctions in achieving their intended goals, with a focus on different types of sanctions throughout history. Discuss the case of US sanctions on Cuba and the success of sanctions on South Africa. Examine contemporary examples like sanctions on Russia and the challenges in assessing their efficacy. Highlight the human impact through Siavash's wife's personal story, emphasizing the need to consider the human aspect in international relations.
Sanctions can have unintended consequences on innocent individuals and smaller countries, as highlighted by the story of Siavash and his wife who faced the devastating effects of sanctions when they were unable to complete a PhD program in Australia due to Iranian sanctions imposed by Australia.
The effectiveness of sanctions in achieving their goals is a matter of debate, with varying opinions among scholars. While some estimate the success rate of sanctions to be as low as 4%, others argue that they change the behavior of targeted countries around 13% of the time.
Deep dives
The Impact of Sanctions on Smaller Countries
Sanctions can have unintended consequences on innocent individuals and smaller countries. The podcast episode discusses the story of Siavash and his wife, who faced the devastating effects of sanctions when they were unable to complete a PhD program in Australia due to Iranian sanctions imposed by Australia. Despite Siavash's wife not being involved in the areas targeted by the sanctions, the university still rejected her application to avoid any risk. This highlights how sanctions can impact individual lives, even when their objectives are geopolitical.
The Effectiveness of Sanctions: Varying Opinions and Limited Success
The episode explores the effectiveness of sanctions in achieving their goals. Different scholars have varying opinions on the success rate of sanctions, with estimates ranging from 4% to 34% efficiency. Agad de Maré, a French author, argues that sanctions only change the behavior of the targeted countries around 13% of the time. Sanctions are often chosen by politicians due to their ease, cheap cost, and as a political tool to show action without resorting to military interventions. However, the podcast highlights the lack of a clear and easily measurable goal for many sanctions.
A Look at Historical Examples: South Africa and Russia
The episode examines the effectiveness of sanctions through two historical examples. The first is the case of South Africa, where sanctions played a significant role in ending apartheid, leading to Nelson Mandela's election in 1994. However, this success raises questions about the suffering endured by the populace for decades and whether it was necessary. The second example focuses on current sanctions against Russia, where opinions on their effectiveness are divided. While some argue that sanctions are strangling Russia's economy, others highlight the lack of a clear objective and the unpredictable nature of their impact. The episode concludes by emphasizing the paradox of sanctions, as they are intended to pressure regimes but often punish individuals.
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From export and import controls to asset freezes and travel restrictions, there are various methods for imposing sanctions. But how effective are they?
In this episode, we will discuss sanctions, how they work, and pose the perhaps controversial question: do they truly work?
PhD Program Rejection
Types of Sanctions: Embargoes, Controls, Freezes, Restrictions