The Art of Sanctions: A View from the Field (Center on Global Energy Policy Series)

As Richard Nephew points out in this highly readable book, the use of economic sanctions to affect the behavior of others internationally has been around for a long time. Precisely because he has been a practitioner in the application of sanctions, his insights and conclusions are thoughtful and should inform policy makers. Experts as well as the interested public will learn a great deal from this book. (Dennis Ross, former special assistant to President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton, and counselor, Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Sanctions have become a hot policy tool and Richard Nephew―a key sanctions policy practitioner during the Obama administration―has written a masterful insider's how-to guide. Those dealing with or worried about North Korea, Russia, or Iran would do well to learn lessons from The Art of Sanctions. (Daniel Fried, former U.S. State Department coordinator for sanctions policy, and distinguished fellow, Atlantic Council) Drawing on his firsthand experience as a senior U.S. policymaker and negotiator, Nephew provides an essential user’s guide to the development and implementation of sanctions, an increasingly vital tool of U.S. statecraft. A must-read for officials and outside experts dealing with North Korea, Iran, Russia, and other pressing national security challenges. (Robert Einhorn, former senior advisor for Nonproliferation and Arms Control at the U.S. State Department, and senior fellow, Brookings Institution) Richard Nephew's excellent book provides a basic framework for effectively employing sanctions. It makes a very important contribution to our understanding of how to use these tools―particularly from a practitioner's perspective. (Eric B. Lorber, Financial Integrity Network) Nephew draws on his experiences at the U.S. Department of State as deputy coordinator for sanctions policy to provide anecdotes about the U.S. experience applying sanctions on Iran and Iraq, which help illustrate his framework and make for an entertaining read. (Arms Control Today) Nations And International Organizations Are Increasingly Using Sanctions As A Means To Achieve Their Foreign Policy Aims. However, Sanctions Are Ineffective If They Are Executed Without A Clear Strategy Repsonsive To The Nature And Changing Behavior Of The Target. In The Art Of Sanctions, Richard Nephew Offers A Much-needed Practical Framework For Planning And Applying Sanctions That Focuses Not Just On The Initial Sanctions Strategy But Also, Crucially, On How To Calibrate Along The Way And How To Decide When Sanctions Have Achieved Maximum Effectiveness. Nephew - A Leader In The Design And Implementation Of Sanctions On Iran - Develops Guidelines For Interpreting Targets' Responses To Sanctions Based On Two Critical Factors: Pain And Resolve. The Efficacy Of Sanctions Lies In The Application Of Pain Against A Target, But Targets May Have Significant Resolve To Resist, Tolerate, Or Overcome This Pain. Understanding The Interplay Of Pain And Resolve Is Central To Using Sanctions Both Successfully And Humanely. With Attention To These Two Key Variables, And To How They Change Over The Course Of A Sanctions Regime, Policymakers Can Pinpoint When Diplomatic Intervention Is Likely To Succeed Or When Escalation Is Necessary. Focusing On Lessons Learned From Sanctions On Both Iran And Iraq, Nephew Provides Policymakers With Practical Guidance On How To Measure And Respond To Pain And Resolve In The Service Of Strong And Successful Sanctions Regimes. -- From Dust Jacket. Introduction -- Defining The Terms -- Iraq -- Taking On Iran -- On Sanctions Imposition And Pain -- Pressure Begins On Iran -- On Target Response And Resolve -- Intense Pressure On Iran And A Turn To Real Negotiations -- On The Search For Inflection Points -- Looking Ahead. Richard Nephew. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Economic sanctions are intended to be a nonmilitary means used by states to force their prerogatives on other states, entities, and individuals. Yet while sanctions have been increasingly used as a foreign policy tool, they are ineffective if executed without a clear strategy that is responsive to the nature and changing behavior of the target. In The Art of Sanctions , Richard Nephew offers a much-needed practical framework that focuses not just on the design of sanctions but, crucially, on how to decide when sanctions have achieved maximum effectiveness and how to improve them along the way. Nephew--a lead participant in the design and implementation of sanctions on Iran--develops guidelines for interpreting targets' responses to sanctions based on two critical factors: pain and resolve. The efficacy of sanctions lies in the application of pain against a target, but targets may have significant resolve to resist, tolerate, or overcome this pain. Understanding the interplay of pain and resolve is central to using sanctions successfully and humanely. With attention to these two key variables, and to how they change over the course of the sanctions regime, policy makers can pinpoint when diplomatic intervention is likely to succeed or when escalation is necessary. Focusing on lessons from sanctions on both Iran and Iraq, Nephew provides policy makers with practical guidance on how to calibrate pain and measure resolve in the service of strong and successful sanctions regimes. Nations and international organizations are increasingly using sanctions as a means to achieve their foreign policy aims. However, sanctions are ineffective if they are executed without a clear strategy responsive to the nature and changing behavior of the target. In The Art of Sanctions , Richard Nephew offers a much-needed practical framework for planning and applying sanctions that focuses not just on the initial sanctions strategy but also, crucially, on how to calibrate along the way and how to decide when sanctions have achieved maximum effectiveness. Nephew—a leader in the design and implementation of sanctions on Iran—develops guidelines for interpreting targets' responses to sanctions based on two critical factors: pain and resolve. The efficacy of sanctions lies in the application of pain against a target, but targets may have significant resolve to resist, tolerate, or overcome this pain. Understanding the interplay of pain and resolve is central to using sanctions both successfully and humanely. With attention to these two key variables, and to how they change over the course of a sanctions regime, policy makers can pinpoint when diplomatic intervention is likely to succeed or when escalation is necessary. Focusing on lessons learned from sanctions on both Iran and Iraq, Nephew provides policymakers with practical guidance on how to measure and respond to pain and resolve in the service of strong and successful sanctions regimes. Table of Contents ......Page 6 Preface......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 12 Introduction......Page 18 1. Defining Terms......Page 24 2. Iraq ......Page 34 3. Taking on Iran......Page 44 4. On Sanctions Imposition and Pain ......Page 60 5. Pressure Begins on Iran ......Page 80 6. On Target Response and Resolve ......Page 96 7. Intense Pressure on Iran and a Turn to Real Negotiations ......Page 119 8. On the Search for Inflection Points ......Page 141 9. Looking Ahead ......Page 161 Conclusion ......Page 196 Notes ......Page 204 Bibliography ......Page 216 Index ......Page 222 Although sanctions have increasingly been used as a foreign policy tool, they are ineffective if executed without a clear strategy that is responsive to the nature and changing behavior of the target. In The Art of Sanctions, Richard Nephew offers a much-needed practical framework for planning and applying sanctions that focuses not just on the initial sanctions strategy but also, crucially, on how to calibrate along the way and how to decide when the sanctions have achieved maximum effectiveness The Art of Sanctions offers a practical framework for planning and applying sanctions based on two critical factors: pain and resolve. Focusing on lessons learned from sanctions on Iran and Iraq, Richard Nephew provides policymakers with practical guidance on how to measure and respond to pain and resolve to achieve successful sanctions regimes.