FIU Green School and George W. Bush Institute issue white paper on economic sanctions and foreign policy
Economic sanctions have been used by the United States for more than 100 years to further its foreign policy and national security goals. But the effectiveness of such sanctions has long been debated, with some contending that sanctions lack the power to modulate political realities while others argue for intensifying sanctions.
These issues are examined in a revealing, new white paper, “An Inadequate Solution: Effectiveness of Economics Sanctions as an Instrument of Foreign Policy,” published by the FIU Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs in collaboration with the George W. Bush Institute.
The white paper presents case studies on three separate countries – Iran, Russia, and Venezuela – to examine the effectiveness of sanctions as they relate to the political and economic spheres. It elaborates on the history of U.S. sanctions, how they operate in foreign policy, and factors that challenge the success of sanctions. This paper also provides recommendations on how to tailor sanctions as a more productive policy instrument for the U.S. It was written by Albert Torres, Program Manager, Global Policy, at the George W. Bush Institute.
The paper is based on the proceedings of a panel discussion sponsored by the Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs on October 20, 2023. The panel included Carrie Filipetti, Executive Director, Vandenberg Coalition; Eduardo Gamarra, Professor, FIU Department of Politics and International Relations; David J. Kramer, Executive Director, George W. Bush Institute; Eric Lob, Associate Professor, FIU Department of Politics and International Relations; and Albert Torres, Program Manager, Global Policy, George W. Bush Institute.
Click here to read the white paper.
Click here to download the white paper.
