Definition
Sanctions are restrictions imposed by states or international bodies on trade, finance, travel, or technology transfer, targeted at a country, an entity, or named individuals. They can be unilateral or multilateral, primary or secondary, sectoral or comprehensive.
Why this matters when reading conflict news
Sanctions are often the headline non-military response to crisis. Their effects (intended and unintended) accumulate over years and are easy to misattribute.
Common misunderstandings
- Sanctions hurt ordinary people, not just elites.
- Sanctions evasion is the rule, not the exception, for long-standing regimes.
- "Sanctions failed" usually means "they did not change the policy", not "they had no effect".