To better understand this paradox it is useful to reexamine common perceptions of economic sanctions. The main conclusion of this analysis is that the chief purpose of foreign policy sanctions is to send signals and not, as is commonly perceived, to exert economic leverage. A corollary is that the pressures to impose foreign policy economic sanctions are likely to endure despite the paucity of tangible results. In light of this finding it is important that policymakers recalculate the balance of likely short‐term policy gains against the harmful long‐term effects of such policies on the competitiveness of U.S. industry.
Inside the Beltway the reigning study of the effectiveness of economic sanctions is by Gary Hufbauer and Jeffrey Schott, who define economic sanctions as “the deliberate government‐inspired withdrawal, or threat of withdrawal, of ‘customary’ trade or financial relations.”[2] Such sanctions are used as a “tool to coerce target governments into particular avenues of response.”[3] The economic leverage discussed here is used to influence national policies or behavior that is not normally considered economic.[4] Economic leverage may be attempted by imposing export controls, import restrictions, curbs on investment, reductions in foreign aid, or freezes of financial assets. Policymakers impose such sanctions to achieve a change in some noneconomic policy, to inflict punishment in the form of economic hardship, as a “demonstration of resolve”[5] to express disapproval of some action, or to achieve some combination of these objectives.
