Publications

The latest research and analysis from the Berkeley Risk and Security Lab

Sanctions, in theory

As the global landscape shifts further toward economic statecraft amid escalating strategic competition, especially involving China, Iran, and Venezuela, policymakers must recognize that the power of sanctions lies not merely in their imposition, but in their credible promise of relief upon behavioral change—a promise that, historically, has proven challenging to uphold.

Publication: Commentary
Published: June 6, 2025

Sanctions in an Era of Strategic Competition

As sanctions become a widely-used tool of state power, their effectiveness — particularly regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine — has been called into question, prompting a re-evaluation of the theory behind them.

Publication: The Oxford Handbook of Geoeconomics and Economic Statecraft
Published: June 20, 2024