International Sanctions: Effectiveness, Limitations, Adverse Effects

International sanctions have become a key instrument of coercive diplomacy, making it possible to respond to breaches of international law without resorting to war. Their use has grown since the end of the Cold War, yet their effectiveness remains debatable. Sanctions fulfill a symbolic role (sending a signal), a tactical role (limiting capacities), and a strategic role (compelling a change in behavior), but their success rate remains limited and largely depends on how ambitious their goals are. Frequently, they produce unintended consequences: rallying populations around targeted regimes, circumvention through globalization, economic costs for those imposing the sanctions, fragmentation of the global system, and accusations of double standards. Sanctions cannot be a substitute for a comprehensive political strategy: for them to be effective, they must be coupled with other diplomatic instruments, combining coercion and incentives, as part of a credible multilateral framework. JEL classification: F50, F51.