The evolution of the UN sanctions regime from 1990 to 2020

Abstract

This dissertation examines the development of the framework implementing and enforcing United Nations Security Council sanctions from 1990 to 2020. Considering that sanctions are often the diplomatic tool of choice imposed in response to challenges against international peace and security, an analysis of their change in nature and effectiveness is of significant interest. Focus is mainly drawn onto post-Cold War sanctions being given the proactive role of avoiding regional disagreements from escalating into an international conflagration. Early endeavours of the United Nations highlighted the demand for an effective sanctions regime which is not dependent on the use of force. The Security Council soon realised that a targeted approach had to be introduced for the purpose of reducing unintended consequences, in particular, humanitarian hardships on the general civilian population. The analysis of ground-breaking sanctions outlines significant findings, mainly that sanctions lead to more effective constraint when targeted towards specific commodities and when linked to peacekeeping or democratic initiatives. Contrastingly, sanctions generally do not lead to effective coercion where the target has a lack of direct political or social/psychological influence and when activity facilitators are not targeted due to ineffective signaling. Sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council must remain targeted whilst adhering to fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, particularly the principle of proportionality in the amount of damage inflicted and the need to distinguish between civilian and military targets.