Sanctions entrench autocratic regimes by redirecting popular anger outward

Evidence

In all honesty, however, we must recognize that sanctions against autocratic regimes never work. Look at Iran today. Cuba’s an even better example. A generation-long embargo hasn’t produced a counterrevolution against Castro. In these situations, the pain sanctions inflict is passed on to the people, and the regime is able to entrench its rule through patronage and by diverting the anger of the people onto an external foe. Sanctions are most effective against nations with thriving civil societies who feel the international isolation. This is what happened in South Africa. — Moustafa Bayoumi, How Does It Feel to Be a Problem? Being…, 1207 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Deliberately induced political chaos consolidates rather than weakens the orchestrator’s power — Aris Komporozos-Athanasiou, Speculative Communities: Living with…, 442; A seemingly unshakable autocratic regime collapsed through converging domestic and international pressure — Charles Tilly, Regimes and Repertoires, 542; Economic sanctions against autocratic regimes entrench them rather than topple them — Moustafa Bayoumi, How Does It Feel to Be a Problem? Being…, 1207 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Economic sanctions against autocratic regimes entrench them rather than topple them #expands (0.97) — Moustafa Bayoumi, How Does It Feel to Be a Problem? Being…, 1207