Sanctions

Explanation

Sanctions are a tool of foreign policy short of military force. They can target entire economies (comprehensive sanctions, as on North Korea and Iran) or specific individuals and entities (targeted or "smart" sanctions, freezing assets and travel bans). The UN Security Council can authorize binding multilateral sanctions; countries also impose unilateral sanctions (U.S. sanctions are the most far-reaching globally due to dollar dominance). Sanctions effectiveness is debated — they impose real costs but rarely compel the targeted behavior quickly. Russia faced unprecedented sanctions after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Sanctions can harm civilian populations and are criticized for producing humanitarian crises.