Theory and Practice of Sanctions Strategy and Effectiveness: Influencing Russian Foreign Policy

Abstract

This master thesis will review the case of contemporary sanctions implemented against Russia by the European Union (EU) with regards to its Ukraine foreign policy, which will assist in determining the effectiveness of sanctions imposed in this specific case. This thesis considers sanctions implemented against Russia as not effective thus far, since sanctions have yet to force a change in Russia's foreign policy. The lack of effectiveness lies with Russia's unique capabilities that enable it to resist sanctions, in combination with major gaps in the EU's sanctions strategy towards Russia. This thesis utilizes the contemporary EU-Russia case to test and expand on Nephew's and Miyagawa's framework of sanctions effectiveness, and discovers new realm of sanctions categorization beyond the regular spectrum of 'effective' and 'ineffective' sanctions regimes — sanctions regimes with inadvertent effects.