This report aims to contribute some clarity to the understanding of sanctions as an instrument of statecraft. It first discusses the manner in which an assessment of sanctions policy can go beyond a simple evaluation of success or failure. It also examines the effectiveness of sanctions that the United States has employed in two cases: the embargo on Cuba and sanctions on Iraq. Finally, it evaluates U.S. policy in each case and considers how the utility derived from the sanctions policy ties in to overall U.S. interests.
