Are Sanctions an Effective Policy Tool?

May 26, 2025

As authoritarian regimes expand their reach, democratic governments often turn to economic sanctions as a response. But are sanctions effective in deterring repression and changing regime behavior — or do they risk harming civilians while entrenching dictators? In this high-stakes debate, debaters will argue in favor of, and against, the effectiveness of sanctions. Join us for a rigorous and timely exchange on the power, pitfalls, and future of one of foreign policy’s most important and contested tools.

Panelists

Elizabeth Shackleford

Elizabeth Shackleford

Senior Policy Director, The John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding at Dartmouth College

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