Sanctions

Sanctions are coercive measures imposed by one or more states on another for political objectives, primarily taking the form of economic or targeted restrictions. Economic sanctions disrupt a nation’s trade and financial flows, often causing severe harm to ordinary citizens. Targeted (or ‘smart’) sanctions aim to pressure political elites while minimizing civilian suffering, permitting trade in essential humanitarian goods like food, medicine, and clothing, and requiring careful oversight of dual-use items. Examples include freezing leaders’ foreign assets, imposing arms embargoes, and restricting materials useful for weapons development.