Міжнародні санкції як інструмент зовнішньої політики

Abstract

International relations in the 21th century are experiencing the systemic crisis marked by an increase in the number of local conflicts and hybrid confrontations, as well as by the geopolitical rivalry. Transformations require the development and application of an effective mechanism to combat violations of international law. One of the mechanisms actively used today by participants in international relations is the application of sanctions. The paper analyses different types, purpose, specifics and other characteristics of international sanctions regarded as a tool of modern international policy. There is no certain definition of “sanctions” in international legal instruments. Along with the term, the terms “coercive measures”, “international legal responsibility”, “countermeasures”, etc. are used. International organizations and states are guided by their own advanced documents (i.e., international treaties, laws, etc.) which prescribe the mechanisms for international sanctions application. International sanctions are the form of international legal responsibility applied to a violator of international agreements. Sanctions as a tool of foreign policy are aimed to put pressure on the violating state to halt illegal actions. Sanctions can be imposed in several dimensions: diplomatic, economic, political, etc. Diplomatic sanctions are aimed at expressing disapproval or dissatisfaction with a certain action of the violating state through the international political isolation of the state. The application of the international sanctions involves the use of political means aimed at counteracting the illegal actions of violating countries allowing in such a way the use of the mechanism of international condemnation, partial isolation etc., which leads to negative changes in the image of the violating state. Economic sanctions are the measures of an economic nature directed at the violating state. In modern international relations, the practice of imposing economic sanctions is quite common, which outweighs the quantitative indicators of the total number of sanctions imposed. At the same time, modern international sanctions are mostly targeted as opposed to comprehensive sanctions which separate those responsible for pursuing a particular policy or taking certain actions against the country’s citizens.