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You highlight the difference well between a democracy and an authoritarian regime. However the suggestion you make at the end, that we should only sanction Put

You highlight the difference well between a democracy and an authoritarian regime. However the suggestion you make at the end, that we should only sanction Putin & co., is exactly the type of measure that would work in a democratic regime but not in an authoritarian one. I can't think of a single case where a large authoritarian regime was handed off gently to a democratic one as a result of sanctions on the dictator.

necovek 5y ago
Can you think of a case where sanctions have produced the desired effect of the regime change? I live in Serbia which was under heavy sanctions in early 90s: those in power have only gotten richer and more powerful during the time. Only after economy started recovering in late 90s, and people could afford to worry about "freedom" instead of basic survival did people get enough democratic momentum to vote incumbents out (sprinkled with a bit of West-supported protests to avoid a possibly rigged second round with 47% votes for opposition to 32% for incumbents in the first round iirc). But sanctions did nothing to hurt those in power. They did plenty to hurt the rest of us.
- O5vYtytb 5y ago
  I think the point is to make the populace angry enough that they assist in overthrowing the regime.
- cloverich 5y ago
  I suspect They also weaken the general military capability given economy generates the tax to pay the military. Not a perfect system of course.
- judge2020 5y ago
  In oppressive regimes, fewer resources need to be put into building infrastructure and improving the human condition of its citizens when more and more of the country's income is generated by harvesting natural resources or via other tasks that mostly require unskilled labor. Democracies only really build infrastructure because their citizens need it to focus on generating economic growth via their own skilled labor, which often can't be done without roads, stable electricity, clean drinking/industrial water, etc. In these situations, for republics like the United States, the best way to encourage the country to improve the standard of living for the citizens is via sanctions since it forces the country to sell these commodities at lower prices to a smaller group of potential buyers. If enough countries limit trade to where the country has to primarily rely on its own citizens for economic stability, they'd be further pressured into at least partially building schools and infrastructure and other things we/the United States believes should be a bare minimum for life.
  - rjzzleep 5y ago
    In the case of Iran all the sanctions have done, was further embolster the hardliners in government. And since there is no carrot left to give the hardliners also get to say that any act of moderation clearly didn't work. I'd say society is at a breaking point but at what cost? It's unlikely that the country will ever go back to trading with the west, China and Russia now hold a firm grip on everything.
    - necovek 5y ago
      I wouldn't worry about "ever going back" to trading with the West: as they say, "money talks". National animosity will remain and it will be a political tool that can be easily put to use, but as long as there's money to be gained to improve life for your local population, trades will start happening.

necovek 5y ago

Can you think of a case where sanctions have produced the desired effect of the regime change? I live in Serbia which was under heavy sanctions in early 90s: those in power have only gotten richer and more powerful during the time. Only after economy started recovering in late 90s, and people could afford to worry about "freedom" instead of basic survival did people get enough democratic momentum to vote incumbents out (sprinkled with a bit of West-supported protests to avoid a possibly rigged second round with 47% votes for opposition to 32% for incumbents in the first round iirc). But sanctions did nothing to hurt those in power. They did plenty to hurt the rest of us.

O5vYtytb 5y ago
I think the point is to make the populace angry enough that they assist in overthrowing the regime.
cloverich 5y ago
I suspect They also weaken the general military capability given economy generates the tax to pay the military. Not a perfect system of course.
judge2020 5y ago
In oppressive regimes, fewer resources need to be put into building infrastructure and improving the human condition of its citizens when more and more of the country's income is generated by harvesting natural resources or via other tasks that mostly require unskilled labor. Democracies only really build infrastructure because their citizens need it to focus on generating economic growth via their own skilled labor, which often can't be done without roads, stable electricity, clean drinking/industrial water, etc. In these situations, for republics like the United States, the best way to encourage the country to improve the standard of living for the citizens is via sanctions since it forces the country to sell these commodities at lower prices to a smaller group of potential buyers. If enough countries limit trade to where the country has to primarily rely on its own citizens for economic stability, they'd be further pressured into at least partially building schools and infrastructure and other things we/the United States believes should be a bare minimum for life.
- rjzzleep 5y ago
  In the case of Iran all the sanctions have done, was further embolster the hardliners in government. And since there is no carrot left to give the hardliners also get to say that any act of moderation clearly didn't work. I'd say society is at a breaking point but at what cost? It's unlikely that the country will ever go back to trading with the west, China and Russia now hold a firm grip on everything.
  - necovek 5y ago
    I wouldn't worry about "ever going back" to trading with the West: as they say, "money talks". National animosity will remain and it will be a political tool that can be easily put to use, but as long as there's money to be gained to improve life for your local population, trades will start happening.