<< Go Back to Case Studies Index
Year imposed |
Year ended |
Principal sendera |
Target country |
Policy goal |
Cost
to target (percent of GNP) |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1914 | 1918 | United Kingdom | Germany | Military victory |
12
|
7.1
|
1917 | 1918 | United States | Japan | Shipping for Allies |
4
|
0.8
|
1918 | 1920 | United Kingdom | Russia | Destabilize Bolsheviks |
2
|
4.1
|
1921 | 1921 | League of Nations | Yugoslavia | Military disruption vs. Albania |
16
|
–
|
1925 | 1925 | League of Nations | Greece | Withdraw from Bulgaria |
16
|
–
|
1932 | 1935 | League of Nations | Paraguay | Settle the Chaco War |
6
|
negligible
|
1932 | 1935 | League of Nations | Bolivia | Settle the Chaco War |
6
|
2.6
|
1933 | 1933 | United Kingdom | USSR | Release British citizens |
12
|
0.02
|
1935 | 1936 | League of Nations | Italy | Withdraw from Abyssinia |
2
|
1.7
|
1938 | 1947 | United States | Mexico | Expropriation dispute |
9
|
0.2
|
1939 | 1945 | United States | Germany | Regime change |
8
|
1.4
|
1939 | 1945 | United States | Germany | Military victory |
12
|
1.4
|
1940 | 1941 | United States | Japan | Withdraw from Southeast Asia |
1
|
0.9
|
1941 | 1945 | United States | Japan | Regime change |
8
|
1.9
|
1941 | 1945 | United States | Japan | Military victory |
12
|
1.9
|
1944 | 1947 | United States | Argentina | Destabilize Perón |
4
|
0.8
|
1946 | Ongoing | Arab League | Israel | Create Palestinian homeland |
4
|
1.7
|
1948 | 1994 | United States | USSR, Comecom | Impair military potential |
6
|
0.2
|
1948 | 1955 | USSR | Yugoslavia | Destabilize Tito government |
1
|
–2.5
|
1948 | 1949 | United States | Netherlands | Recognize Indonesia |
16
|
0.2
|
1948 | 1949 | USSR | France | Berlin blockade |
2
|
negligible
|
1948 | 1949 | USSR | United Kingdom | Berlin blockade |
2
|
0.1
|
1948 | 1949 | USSR | United States | Berlin blockade |
2
|
0.1
|
1948 | 1948 | India | Hyderabad | Assimilate Hyderabad |
8
|
2
|
1949 | 1970 | United States | China | Impair military potential |
2
|
0.5
|
1950 | Ongoing | United States | North Korea | Regime change |
1
|
1.2
|
1950 | Ongoing | United States | North Korea | Military impairment |
4
|
1.2
|
1950 | 1953 | United States | China | Military disruption, Korea |
2
|
0.5
|
1951 | 1953 | United States | Iran | Destabilize Mossadegh |
12
|
14.3
|
1954 | 1984 | Spain | United Kingdom | Sovereignty over Gibraltar |
6
|
0.009
|
1954 | 1974 | United States | North Vietnam | Military impairment |
1
|
1.6
|
1954 | 1961 | India | Portugal | Assimilate Goa into India |
8
|
negligible
|
1954 | 1954 | USSR | Australia | Repatriate Soviet defector |
2
|
0.5
|
1956 | 1983 | United States | Israel | Intermittent, various |
4
|
0.1
|
1956 | 1962 | United States | Laos | Destabilization |
9
|
4.2
|
1956 | 1956 | United States | Egypt | Suez nationalization |
9
|
3.4
|
1956 | 1956 | United States | United Kingdom | End Suez intervention |
12
|
0.3
|
1957 | 1963 | France | Tunisia | Assistance to Algerian rebels |
2
|
0.9
|
1957 | 1962 | Indonesia | Netherlands | Control of West Irian |
8
|
0.7
|
1958 | 1959 | USSR | Finland | Adopt pro-USSR policies |
16
|
1.1
|
1960 | 1989 | United States | Cuba | Destabilize Castro |
1
|
3.9
|
1960 | 1989 | United States | Cuba | Disruption of military adventures |
8
|
3.9
|
1960 | 1970 | USSR | China | Military impairment |
4
|
0.5
|
1960 | 1962 | United States | Dominican Republic | Destabilize Trujillo |
12
|
1.9
|
1961 | 1965 | United States | Ceylon | Expropriation dispute |
16
|
0.6
|
1961 | 1965 | USSR | Albania | Destabilize Hoxha |
1
|
0.6
|
1961 | 1962 | United States | German Democratic Republic | Berlin Wall |
2
|
–
|
1962 | 1994 | United Nations | South Africa | End apartheid, Namibia |
8
|
1.2
|
1962 | 1964 | United States | Brazil | Expropriation, destabilization |
12
|
0.6
|
1962 | 1963 | USSR | Romania | Limit economic independence |
2
|
–
|
1963 | 1974 | Organization of African Unity | Portugal | Free African colonies |
8
|
0.3
|
1963 | 1966 | Indonesia | Malaysia | "Crush Malaysia" |
2
|
1
|
1963 | 1966 | United States | Indonesia | Regime change |
8
|
2
|
1963 | 1966 | United States | Indonesia | End "Crush Malaysia" |
8
|
2
|
1963 | 1965 | United States | Egypt | Military disruption, Yemen, Congo |
12
|
1.4
|
1963 | 1963 | United States | South Vietnam | Destabilize Diem |
12
|
0.3
|
1964 | 1966 | France | Tunisia | Expropriation |
6
|
1.5
|
1965 | 1979 | United Nations | Rhodesia | Majority rule |
12
|
13
|
1965 | 1967 | United States | India | Agriculture policy |
16
|
0.08
|
1965 | 1966 | United States | Chile | Reduce copper price |
9
|
–
|
1967 | 1970 | Nigeria | Biafra | End civil war |
12
|
15.2
|
1968 | 1974 | United States | Peru | Expropriation |
12
|
0.7
|
1968 | 1968 | United States | Peru | French fighter jets |
1
|
0.7
|
1970 | 1973 | United States | Chile | Destabilize Allende |
12
|
1.5
|
1971 | 1971 | United States | Pakistan | Military disruption |
4
|
0.3
|
1971 | 1971 | United States | India | Military disruption |
4
|
0.1
|
1971 | 1971 | United Kingdom | Malta | Defense agreement |
6
|
4.4
|
1972 | 1979 | United States | Uganda | Destabilize Amin |
12
|
2.6
|
1973 | 1977 | United States | South Korea | Human rights |
4
|
1.8
|
1973 | 1974 | Arab League | Netherlands | Support for Israel |
9
|
4.0
|
1973 | 1974 | Arab League | United States | Support for Israel |
9
|
0.2
|
1974 | 1978 | United States | Turkey | Military disruption, Cyprus |
1
|
0.2
|
1974 | 1976 | Canada | India | Nuclear proliferation |
4
|
0.04
|
1974 | 1976 | Canada | Pakistan | Nuclear proliferation |
4
|
0.1
|
1975 | 1998 | United States | North Vietnam | Account for MIAs, withdrawal from Cambodia |
6
|
1.2
|
1975 | 1994 | United States | USSR | Freer emigration |
8
|
0.01
|
1975 | 1990 | United States | Chile | Human rights, democracy |
8
|
0.7
|
1975 | 1982 | United States | South Africa | Nuclear policy |
4
|
0.005
|
1975 | 1979 | United States | Kampuchea | Human rights, deter Vietnamese |
2
|
6.4
|
1975 | 1976 | United States | South Korea | Nuclear proliferation |
16
|
–
|
1976 | Ongoing | United States | Arab League | Antiboycott |
6
|
0.04
|
1976 | 1981 | United States | Uruguay | Human rights |
6
|
0.3
|
1976 | 1977 | United States | Taiwan | Nuclear policy |
16
|
0.1
|
1977 | 2005 | United States | Guatemala | Human rights |
9
|
0.2
|
1977 | 1992 | United States | Ethiopia | Human rights, expropriation |
6
|
–6.3
|
1977 | 1984 | United States | Brazil | Human rights |
6
|
0.1
|
1977 | 1983 | United States | Argentina | Human rights |
6
|
0.1
|
1977 | 1981 | United States | Paraguay | Human rights |
6
|
0.1
|
1977 | 1981 | United States | El Salvador | Human rights |
6
|
0.5
|
1977 | 1979 | United States | Nicaragua | Destabilize Somoza |
12
|
1.0
|
1977 | 1978 | Canada | European Community | Nuclear safeguards |
9
|
0.002
|
1977 | 1978 | Canada | Japan | Nuclear safeguards |
9
|
0.01
|
1978 | 2004 | United States | Libya | Destabilize Gadhafi |
12
|
1.7
|
1978 | 2004 | United States | Libya | Nuclear proliferation |
12
|
1.7
|
1978 | 1988 | China | Vietnam | Withdraw from Kampuchea |
6
|
3.5
|
1978 | 1983 | China | Albania | Anti-Chinese rhetoric |
2
|
3.3
|
1978 | 1983 | Arab League | Egypt | Camp David Accords |
2
|
–0.4
|
1978 | 1982 | United States | Argentina | Nuclear policy |
4
|
negligible
|
1978 | 1982 | United States | India | Nuclear policy |
4
|
0.01
|
1978 | 1981 | United States | Brazil | Nuclear policy |
4
|
0.002
|
1978 | 1980 | United States | USSR | Human rights (dissidents) |
2
|
0.003
|
1979 | 1997 | United States | Pakistan | Nuclear policy |
1
|
1.0
|
1979 | 1990 | United States | Chile | Assassination of Letelier |
12
|
0.7
|
1979 | 1982 | United States | Bolivia | Human rights, drugs |
6
|
1.7
|
1979 | 1981 | United States | Iran | Return hostages |
12
|
3.8
|
1979 | 1979 | Arab League | Canada | Planned embassy move |
12
|
0.003
|
1980 | 2003 | United States | Iraq | Terrorism |
4
|
0.1
|
1980 | 1981 | United States | USSR | Invasion of Afghanistan |
2
|
0.04
|
1980 | 1981 | United States | USSR | Impairment, Afghanistan |
2
|
0.04
|
1981 | 1990 | United States | Nicaragua | Destabilize Sandinistas |
8
|
3.2
|
1981 | 1987 | United States | Poland | Various, solidarity |
9
|
0.1
|
1981 | 1986 | European Community | Turkey | Restore democracy |
6
|
0.2
|
1981 | 1982 | United States | USSR | Impairment, Poland |
1
|
0.03
|
1982 | 1991 | Netherlands | Suriname | Human rights, Cuba-Libya influence |
9
|
6.2
|
1982 | 1986 | South Africa | Lesotho | Return South African refugees |
16
|
5.1
|
1982 | 1982 | United Kingdom | Argentina | Withdraw from Falklands |
12
|
0.6
|
1983 | 1989 | United States | Romania | Human rights, emigration |
6
|
0.4
|
1983 | 1988 | United States | Zimbabwe | Foreign policy |
4
|
0.4
|
1983 | 1986 | Australia | France | Nuclear testing |
2
|
negligible
|
1983 | 1983 | United States | USSR | KAL 007 shooting down |
2
|
negligible
|
1983 | 1983 | United States | Grenada | Destabilize Communist sympathizers |
8
|
negligible
|
1984 | Ongoing | United States | Iran | Nuclear proliferation, terrorism |
4
|
0.4
|
1984 | 1997 | United States | Lebanon | Hostage taking, Hezbollah activities |
6
|
1.0
|
1985 | 1991 | United States | South Africa | Apartheid |
12
|
1.9
|
1986 | Ongoing | United States | Syria | Terrorism |
6
|
0.02
|
1986 | 1999 | Greece | Turkey | Aegean Island, Cyprus, human rights |
4
|
0.1
|
1986 | 1992 | United States | Angola | Cuban troops, Marxism |
6
|
0.04
|
1986 | 1986 | France | New Zealand | Repatriation of French agents |
12
|
0.005
|
1987 | 2001 | India | Fiji | Restore democracy, modify Constitution |
4
|
0.9
|
1987 | 1990 | United States | Panama | Destabilize Noriega |
8
|
6.0
|
1987 | 1990 | United States | Haiti | Human rights, drugs, elections |
6
|
2.9
|
1987 | 1988 | United States | El Salvador | Amnesty |
16
|
–
|
1988 | Ongoing | United States | Burma | Human rights, elections |
4
|
1.7
|
1988 | Ongoing | United Nations | Somalia | Human rights, civil war |
2
|
7.5
|
1989 | Ongoing | United States | China | Human rights (Tiananmen Square) |
2
|
negligible
|
1989 | Ongoing | United States | Sudan | Human rights, democracy |
4
|
3.7
|
1989 | Ongoing | Turkey, Azerbijan | Armenia | Withdraw from Nagorno-Karabakh |
2
|
4.0
|
1989 | 1990 | India | Nepal | Relations with China |
9
|
4.6
|
1990 | Ongoing | United States | Cuba | Destabilize Castro |
4
|
14.0
|
1990 | 1997 | United States | Zaire | Democracy |
4
|
3.8
|
1990 | 1997 | United States | Yemen et al. | Enforce UN embargo vs. Iraq |
9
|
5.2
|
1990 | 1994 | United States | Jordan | Enforce UN embargo vs. Iraq |
6
|
5.6
|
1990 | 1993 | United States | Romania | Democracy, elections |
6
|
0.4
|
1990 | 1993 | United States | El Salvador | Human rights, end civil war |
9
|
1.3
|
1990 | 1993 | United States | Kenya | Political repression, human rights, democracy |
6
|
2.3
|
1990 | 1991 | United Nations | Iraq, prewar | Military disruption, free Kuwait, hostages |
2
|
30.0
|
1990 | 1990 | USSR | Lithuania | Revoke Independence Declaration |
6
|
1.5
|
1991 | Ongoing | United States | China | Nuclear proliferation |
4
|
negligible
|
1991 | 2003 | United Nations | Iraq, postwar | Destabilization |
1
|
54.0
|
1991 | 2003 | United Nations | Iraq, postwar | Military impairment |
9
|
54.0
|
1991 | 2001 | United Nations | Yugoslavia | Civil war in Bosnia |
9
|
13.3
|
1991 | 1997 | United States | Indonesia | Human rights in East Timor |
2
|
0.1
|
1991 | 1995 | USSR/Russia | Turkmenistan | Human rights for Russians |
12
|
19.8
|
1991 | 1995 | United States | Peru | Democracy, human rights |
12
|
0.5
|
1991 | 1994 | United Nations | Haiti | Democracy |
4
|
14.2
|
1991 | 1992 | United States | Thailand | Coup |
6
|
0.04
|
1991 | 1991 | United States | USSR | Coup |
8
|
negligible
|
1992 | Ongoing | European Union | Togo | Democracy, human rights |
4
|
3.4
|
1992 | 2003 | United Nations | Libya | Extradite Pan Am suspects |
12
|
0.9
|
1992 | 2002 | United States | Azerbaijan | End Armenia embargo |
1
|
0.7
|
1992 | 2000 | European Union | Equatorial Guinea | Democracy, human rights |
6
|
15.0
|
1992 | 1999 | USSR/Russia | Estonia | Human rights for Russians |
4
|
1.0
|
1992 | 1998 | Economic Community of West African States | Liberia | Civil war |
12
|
10.2
|
1992 | 1998 | USSR/Russia | Latvia | Human rights for Russians |
4
|
1.0
|
1992 | 1998 | United States | Cameroon | Human rights, democracy |
4
|
0.2
|
1992 | 1997 | United Nations | Cambodia, Khmer Rouge | Ban Khmer Rouge |
6
|
negligible
|
1992 | 1995 | United States | Nicaragua | Civil control over military, expropriation claims |
12
|
2.4
|
1992 | 1994 | China | France | Arms sales to Taiwan |
12
|
0.01
|
1992 | 1994 | European Union | Algeria | Democracy |
4
|
–0.1
|
1992 | 1993 | United States | Malawi | Democracy, human rights |
16
|
6.6
|
1993 | Ongoing | United States | Sudan | Terrorism, religious persecution |
6
|
0.4
|
1993 | 2002 | United Nations | Angola, Unita | Civil war, democracy |
12
|
7.5
|
1993 | 1998 | United States | Nigeria | Human rights, democracy, narcotics |
4
|
0.4
|
1993 | 1997 | USSR/Russia | Ukraine | Control over Black Sea fleet, nuclear weapons |
6
|
7.1
|
1993 | 1996 | USSR/Russia | Kazakhstan | Independence issues, energy resources |
9
|
4.6
|
1993 | 1994 | United States | North Korea | Nuclear proliferation |
9
|
–
|
1993 | 1993 | United States | Guatemala | Coup |
16
|
1.3
|
1994 | 1998 | United States | Gambia | Democracy |
6
|
–0.02
|
1994 | 1995 | Greece | Macedonia | National identity |
9
|
3.2
|
1994 | 1995 | Greece | Albania | Release of jailed ethnic Greek leaders |
16
|
2.9
|
1994 | 1995 | United Nations | Rwanda | Civil violence |
2
|
–5.6
|
1995 | 1998 | United States | Peru | Border conflict |
8
|
negligible
|
1995 | 1998 | United States | Ecuador | Border conflict |
8
|
negligible
|
1995 | 1996 | Australia | France | Nuclear testing |
4
|
negligible
|
1995 | 1995 | European Union | Turkey | Human rights |
9
|
negligible
|
1996 | 2000 | United States | Nigeria | Democracy |
9
|
4.9
|
1996 | 1999 | East African members of Organization of African Unity | Burundi | Democracy |
6
|
10.4
|
1996 | 1998 | United States | Zambia | Human rights, constitutional reform |
4
|
2.9
|
1996 | 1998 | United States | Colombia | Narcotics, human rights |
6
|
0.2
|
1996 | 1996 | United States, Mercosur members | Paraguay | Possible coup attempt |
12
|
–
|
1997 | Ongoing | United Nations | Cambodia, Khmer Rouge | Democracy |
4
|
2.6
|
1997 | 2003 | United Nations | Sierra Leone | Democracy |
8
|
5.8
|
1998 | 2001 | United States | Pakistan | Nuclear policy |
4
|
1.0
|
1998 | 2001 | United States | India | Nuclear proliferation |
2
|
0.2
|
1998 | 2001 | United States | Yugoslavia, Serbia | Destabilize Milošević |
12
|
8.3
|
1998 | 1999 | United States | Yugoslavia, Serbia | Kosovo |
6
|
8.3
|
1998 | 1999 | Turkey | Italy | Kurdish leader |
9
|
–
|
1999 | 2002 | United States | Indonesia | Independence for East Timor |
12
|
0.2
|
1999 | 2002 | United Nations | Afghanistan | Extradite Osama bin Laden |
2
|
1.1
|
1999 | 2002 | United States | Ivory Coast | Coup, democracy |
6
|
0.3
|
1991 | 2001 | United States | Pakistan | Coup, democracy |
2
|
negligible
|
2000 | 2006 | Economic Community of West African States | Liberia | Support for RUF |
8
|
18.8
|
2000 | 2000 | United States | Ecuador | Coup |
12
|
–
|
2002 | 2006 | United States | North Korea | Nuclear proliferation |
1
|
0.6
|
(listed by year imposed)
a In some instances, other countries or international organizations participated in
the sanctions.
b For the definition of success score, see Defining Success of Economic Sanctions Episodes.
Source: Economic Sanctions Reconsidered, 3d ed. (2008).