The Place of Economic Sanctions in United States Foreign Policy, From Behavior Change to Regime Change

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Faculty of International Studies, Imam Hossein University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Teacher and researcher at the International Studies Faculty, Imam Hossein University.

3 Master's student in Regional Studies, North America orientation, Imam Hussein University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Today, the United States utilizes various tools to maintain its hegemony and survival. Over the past decades, economic sanctions have been one of the most frequently employed tools by the U.S. Unlike the predominantly militaristic nature of U.S. foreign policy during the bipolar order, in the post-Cold War era, economic sanctions have rapidly become an instrument on par with militarism in U.S. foreign policy. The perspective of American policymakers toward economic sanctions has shifted compared to previous eras, and economic sanctions have become a fixed and strategic principle in the foreign policy of this country. On the other hand, influenced by events and developments in the realm of international political economy and the acceleration and intensification of economic globalization, the status and popularity of sanctions among U.S. policymakers have increased. To the extent that, in the current decision-making process of U.S. foreign policy apparatus, it is taken for granted that the world can be controlled through coercive economic tools. Accordingly, this article, employing a descriptive-analytical approach to explain the data and a library research method for data collection, seeks to answer the question: What is the position of economic sanctions in U.S. foreign policy? The findings of the research indicate that the U.S. resorts to sanctions when other efforts to achieve its objectives have failed. Moreover, over time, the role of sanctions in U.S. foreign policy has evolved from deterrence and behavioral change to a weapon for overthrowing and altering opposing governments.

Keywords

American Strategic Studies

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 08 April 2025

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History

  • Receive Date: 01 October 2024
  • Revise Date: 16 March 2025
  • Accept Date: 08 April 2025
  • Publish Date: 08 April 2025

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