Question

If economic sanctions don’t seem to work well, why do you think governments continue to use them? How would you use sanctions if you were a state leader?

Answer 1

                                    Economic sanctions are referred to as those financial and commercial penalties that are being applied by one nation on the other or an individual within the nation so as to achieve certain domestic or international purposes which may be economic, political or social. It may include various forms like trade barriers, tariffs, restrictions on the financial transactions etc. It may also be extended to forms like an embargo which may induce a complete ban on certain areas of trade or certain commercial or trade transactions in a particular area.

                                    Although economic sanctions are imposed so as to achieve a certain purpose, the efficacy of the sanctions are always important for the stable operation of a nation’s economy. It is seen that in some cases economic sanctions are being induced as a result of the tension in political scenario that may exist between nations or within a nation. In such cases, sometimes such sanctions may not be necessary, but still it would be induced like barriers to import or export that may have negative impacts on the overall relations in international economics or could result in disadvantages to those nation’s that induce them. It has to be understood that such sanctions are always to be eliminated in international parlance.

                                    As it is being questioned, some economies still continue to se certain sanctions that may seem to be not necessary in the given circumstances. But it has to be noted that certain sanctions may have impacts on the future or in other words, certain sanctions may be induced so as to curtail some notable future events and hence it would force the nation to induce those even if it would seem to be not necessary in the short run economy. Hence, the overall and long-term impact of all the sanctions have to be considered before making a statement as to whether that was necessary or not.

                                    If I were a state leader, the implementation of the sanctions would be done after consideration of both the short-term and long-term impacts after the sanctions are being induced in to the system. Moreover, the need for those sanctions would be made open so as to attract discussions and hence the appropriate actions would be taken if the sanctions are seen unnecessary at the time. The impacts of those sanctions on the other sectors would also be determined and all the possible steps would be taken so as to make sure that the relations would be maintained and only the reason for which the sanctions are introduced would be met.