The paper explores the effectiveness of economic sanctions imposed on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine, utilizing a framework of five dimensions: compliance, subversion, deterrence, international symbolism, and domestic symbolism. The primary research question is whether these sanctions have achieved their stated and implied goals, such as curbing Russian aggression and influencing global perceptions.
The authors analyze the sanctions’ outcomes across these dimensions by reviewing economic, political, and social impacts on Russia since the sanctions began. They focus on changes in Russian behavior, domestic and international perceptions, and the implications for global geopolitics. The methodology includes qualitatively evaluating economic indicators, political stability, and public opinion data.
The analysis suggests that sanctions have been partially effective in terms of compliance, as they have contributed to Russia’s adjustment of its military strategy but have not halted its aggression. Subversion, the goal of destabilizing or changing the Russian regime, has so far been largely unsuccessful, as Putin remains in power and the Russian political system continues to function. However, sanctions so far appear effective in deterrence, discouraging further territorial expansion beyond Ukraine and signaling to other potential aggressors, such as China, that similar actions would lead to severe economic repercussions.
Beyond direct strategic outcomes, the study finds that sanctions have been effective in the realm of international symbolism, reinforcing Western unity and demonstrating solidarity with Ukraine. They have also served as a tool of domestic symbolism, enabling policymakers in sanctioning countries to show firm action against Russian aggression, which has generally been well-received by their domestic audiences.
While the paper acknowledges that sanctions have imposed significant economic costs on Russia, it also highlights the limitations of these measures in compelling immediate policy changes. Given the long-term nature of economic pressure, the authors argue that future assessments of sanctions should take a more interdisciplinary approach to understand their evolving impact.
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