EVALUATION OF SANCTIONS ON THE RUSSIAN POLICY

Abstract

This dissertation analyses the effectiveness and impact of economic sanctions on Russia, evaluating the economic, political, and social effects using a political economy framework. Sanctions are intended to impose financial burden, erode governmental capability, and drive leadership into compliance, although their actual consequences are debated. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining economic statistics, public opinion data, and literature analysis to determine if Western sanctions accomplished their intended goals or strengthened state resilience. The findings show that, while sanctions have limited financial access, lowered trade revenues, and created inflationary pressures, they have not resulted in major political compromises. Instead, Russia has showed tremendous adaptability through trade diversification, import substitution, and economic realignment with non-Western allies. According to public opinion data, sanctions have neither fuelled widespread dissatisfaction or eroded regime legitimacy, as state-controlled narratives have portrayed them as a foreign attack on national sovereignty. The study shows that financial sanctions alone are insufficient to induce large geopolitical transformations in authoritarian nations since they frequently enhance state authority, accelerate economic reorientation, and restructure global trade relations rather than inspiring compliance. The study emphasises the limitations of economic statecraft and advocates for a more strategic, coordinated, and adaptable approach to sanctions policy, which combines economic pressure with diplomatic engagement, strategic communication, and targeted interventions to improve effectiveness while minimising unintended consequences. This study adds to the larger discussion about the effectiveness of sanctions and authoritarian resilience, providing insights for policymakers negotiating the intricacies of economic coercion in a changing global order.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	HBKU College of Public Policy