Report

Understanding and improving sanctions today

This report from UK think tank Chatham House explores why and how many sanctions fail, and what to do about it.

Sanctions are a key instrument of foreign policy and economic statecraft, applied with increasing frequency by the US, the UK and the EU.

Given the growing prevalence of these tools, there are mounting concerns about the efficacy, enforcement and unintended consequences of sanctions, as well as their impact on international norms and geopolitics. The large number of sanctions currently in force has increased cooperation between sanctioned countries, including China, Russia, North Korea and Iran.

Furthermore, the US’s use of secondary sanctions prevents Western allied governments and businesses from investing in sanctioned countries. This allows investors from Russia, China and Iran to scoop up valuable assets and ensures their long-term global influence. Despite concerns over the efficacy of sanctions and the implications for geopolitics, the use of these measures is likely to continue.