Evaluating the Impact and Effectiveness of Multilateral Targeted Sanctions

Researcher:

Thomas J. Biersteker

This project seeks to engage in a systematic, comprehensive, multi-national study of the effects and effectiveness of multilateral targeted sanctions. Targeted sanctions are increasingly being utilized by the UN Security Council, but at the same time, they are being challenged by a number of states and non-governmental organizations, particularly with regard to their effects on individual human rights, but also with regard to their effectiveness. Given the new leadership in the US and recent changes in Security Council dynamics at the UN, this is an opportune time to assess the instrument of targeted sanctions and conduct a comprehensive analysis of the experience with the measures to date. It is important that the policy debate be informed by carefully constructed, objective, analytical research.

A workshop on Assessing the Effects of Targeted Sanctions was organized in december 2009 within the framework of the project, after which a report was published.