Sanctions Policy: Methodology, Directions, and Forecasting

For decades, sanctions against one country, specific industries and individuals have been a powerful tool in the hands of other countries. Introduced in rounds and packages, intended to be far-reaching, with painful restrictions applied to industries and individuals, sanctions are supposed to – and DO – lead to a shrink of economy and production in many industrial sectors and negative effect on a country’s tax revenues. The toolbox is quite varied – price caps, blocking and secondary sanctions, travel bans, assets freeze. And, without a doubt, they do cause harm – but to what extent? And do they hurt the imposing parties as well?

This complex course offers a platform for students to learn about sanctions policies and tools - utilized by the EU, the USA and the UK - but more importantly, akin to the Valdai Discussion Club, to reflect upon the essence of sanctions policies in terms of their complex nature, from the standpoint of economics, law and international relations, and through the prism of several countries – Russia, Iran, North Korea, etc.