ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AS POLITICAL INSTRUMENT IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE CASE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Abstract

The main goal of this paper is to evaluate the impact of the application of economic sanctions against the Russian Federation, taking as reference a broader frame of analysis arisen from: the negotiations under way between the United States of America (USA) and Iran on the suspension of the economic sanctions applied against Iran; and between the USA and Cuba, in order to reestablish diplomatic relations between both countries. The intention was to analyze the meaning of economic sanctions, how they are understood and the economic, financial and social costs implied as well as their effectiveness, especially viewed from the maintenance of piece in a world perspective. The general conclusions are that the application of economic sanctions against Iran and Cuba, even with different goals, produced sufficient impact during the long time of their application, resulting in economic losses, great people’s suffering and relative isolation of both countries. However, it did not achieve the intended goals previously defined as basis for their application. In the case of the Russian Federation, the sanctions continue to be applied, but within negotiations on the subject, that constitutes de justification for their application, the civil war in Ukraine. The basis of negotiation are the so-called the Minsk Protocols I and II (appendix to the article), signed by representatives of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, the Ukrainian republics in conflict with the Ukrainian government – Donetz and Lugansk – and the OSCE. In all three cases, diplomacy and negotiations were confirmed as the best way to solve conflicts.