The Status of Sanctions in US Foreign Policy: A Study on the Magnitsky Act
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58298/842026836Keywords:
US sanctions, foreign policy, Magnitsky Act, human rights, economic diplomacyAbstract
This research examines the role of sanctions in American foreign policy through a case study of the Magnitsky Act and its implications for human rights and international relations. The research begins with a preliminary discussion focusing on the concept of economic sanctions and their objectives, then moves on to an analysis of how they are employed as an effective diplomatic tool in managing international relations and American foreign policy.
The research highlights the circumstances surrounding the adoption of the Magnitsky Act, which was enacted to punish human rights violators and those involved in corruption. It also addresses the expansion of the law's application to include several countries, and explains how the law contributed to establishing the principle of accountability and deterring future violations, in addition to its role in supporting activists and human rights organizations by exposing violations and strengthening international efforts to combat them.
The research discusses the economic effects of sanctions on targeted countries, such as economic recession, rising unemployment rates, inflation, depreciation of local currency, decreased government revenues, and increased poverty and inequality. It shows examples of both successful and failed sanctions, illustrating how they can lead to significant political and economic changes, with a focus on cases like South Africa, Libya, Cuba, and Iran.
This research contributes to explaining the political effects on international relations under the implementation of sanctions, and how sanctions contribute to reinforcing international isolation, reshaping alliances, escalating regional conflicts, and influencing the internal policies of targeted countries. It also discusses the impact of sanctions on international diplomacy and their effect on relations between states.
Finally, the research provides a comprehensive analysis of the effectiveness of sanctions by examining political objectives, economic impacts, shifts in international behavior, the level of international solidarity, and how targeted states are able to circumvent imposed restrictions, thus contributing to a deeper understanding of the nature of sanctions' impact on the international system.
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