These statistics suggest that economic sanctions are not always highly effective and that their success

varies depending on various factors and conditions, as discussed in the article.

1. Success Rate: It states that conventional trade and financial sanctions result in some meaningful
behavioural change in the targeted country about 40 percent of the time.

2. Success Rate of Targeted Sanctions: Most targeted sanctions, such as bans on the sale of luxury
goods and sectoral sanctions, have a lower success rate, around 20 percent.

The effectiveness of international sanctions depends on various factors:

1. Economic Cost: Sanctions are more likely to be effective when they impose significant economic
costs on the targeted state. Higher costs increase the likelihood of the state changing its policies.

2. Type of Regime: Sanctions are more effective against democracies than autocracies. Democratic
leaders are more inclined to seek peaceful solutions to avoid economic deterioration.

3. Economic and Political Stability: Sanctions are more likely to succeed when targeted states are
weak, facing civil unrest, or economic problems. Economic vulnerability makes it harder for leaders
to manage a state in crisis.

4. Relationship Between States: The economic relationship between the sanctioning state and the
sanctioned state should be significant for sanctions to be effective. Sanctions must affect critical
sectors that are difficult to replace with imports from other states.

5. Type of Objective: Sanctions are more likely to succeed when objectives are modest, such as
imposing annoyances on the sanctioned state rather than demanding regime change.

6. International Cohesion: Sanctions require international cohesion, with most economic partners of
the sanctioned state participating. Lack of cohesion allows the sanctioned state to find alternative
suppliers.

7. Rally Around the Flag: Sanctions can lead to a rally-around-the-flag effect, where civil society
supports the government in response to sanctions. This can strengthen national cohesion around the
ruling power.

8. Importance of Reputation: Some states may prioritize maintaining a tough reputation over
securing their economy, leading them to endure sanctions rather than comply with demands.

9. Time: Sanctions often remain in place for an extended period. Over time, sanctioned states may
develop self-sufficiency, reducing the effectiveness of sanctions.

In summary, the effectiveness of sanctions depends on the specific circumstances, including the
strength of the targeted state, its political system, economic stability, and the international context.
Sanctions may contain conflicts but may not always lead to major political changes.

When Sanctions Work the Best-

1. Limited Success: Sanctions often don't work well when they are already in place. They work better
when they are just threatened.

2. Target's Misunderstanding: For sanctions to work after they start, the country facing sanctions
must initially underestimate how bad the sanctions will be, misunderstand how determined the
other country is to enforce them, or think that sanctions will happen no matter what they do.

3. Fixing Misunderstandings: The target country's misunderstandings need to be corrected after the
sanctions are in effect for the sanctions to work.

4. Strong Sanctions: Making the sanctions strong makes them more likely to work.

5. Changing to Stronger Sanctions: Sometimes, the sender might start with mild sanctions and then
switch to harsher ones if the target doesn't give in.

6. Smart Sanctions: There's a question about whether "smart sanctions," which are more focused,
work better than broad ones.

Recommendations for Policymakers

- Aim for immediate damage to the targeted country's economy.

- Seek alliances with other countries and international organizations when imposing sanctions.
- Understand that autocratic regimes can resist sanctions more effectively than democracies.

Central Economic Body for economic sanctions

The United Nations (UN) is one of the primary international bodies that oversee and impose
economic sanctions. The UN Security Council is responsible for authorizing and enforcing sanctions in
various situations where international peace and security are threatened. When the Security Council
deems it necessary, it can impose sanctions on a country or specific entities within that country.

Additionally, regional organizations and international alliances may also play a role in implementing
and monitoring economic sanctions. For example, the European Union (EU) often imposes sanctions
in alignment with UN decisions, and it has its own sanctions programs and mechanisms for
enforcement.

So, while the UN is a central international body for economic sanctions, regional organizations and
alliances may have their own sanctions measures in place to complement or reinforce UN sanctions
in their respective regions.

Source: The Effectiveness of Economic Sanctions as a Security Tool (asisonline.org)

When Do Economic Sanctions Work Best? | Center for a New American Security (en-US) (cnas.org)
Under what conditions are international sanctions effective? (theconversation.com)
Cambridge and WTO