Sanctions In Foreign Policy: Influence Or Conflict

Abstract

Political and economic sanctions have appeared as a vital instrument of foreign policy. In this multipolar world sanctions often positioned as a non-military means of manipulating state behavior. This paper explores the growing role of sanctions in current international relations, examining whether they serve as tools of diplomatic influence or instruments that intensify conflict. The study evaluates the efficacy, unplanned consequences, and ethical dimensions of sanctions. It analyses the strategic motivations of sanctioning states, the resilience and adaptation of targeted regimes, and the broader impact on global governance, human rights, and international law.  Based on realist theory, liberal theory and constructivist theory the paper assesses those sanctions can be effective under specific conditions, their misuse can destabilize international norms, make worse humanitarian crises, and establish authoritarianism raising critical questions about their legitimacy and future in international diplomacy.