Political gain and civilian pain : humanitarian impacts of economic sanctions

These two books are part of the impressive peace research output of the Fourth Freedom Forum, the Kroc Institute at the University of Notre Dame, and Brown University's Watson Institute for International Studies. The Price of Peace, sponsored by the Carnegie Commission on the Prevention of Deadly Conflict, focuses on the hitherto neglected topic of incentives (sometimes referred to as positive sanctions). Political Gain and Civilian Pain addresses the humanitarian concerns raised by negative sanctions, a subject currently in the forefront of discussion inside and outside the United Nations as a result of deteriorating conditions of life in Iraq. Both books rely on case studies by expert contributors with editorial comment and analysis.The Price of Peace is a very successful venture. Case material is organized in three major sections focusing on experience with the use of incentives in preventing weapons proliferation, in regional conflict resolution, and through multilateral channels. The chapters are all of excellent quality and offer fresh analysis and insights. A short review precludes detail, but mention should be made of the valuable contribution by Scott Snyder on the role of incentives in the North Korea case. Among 'lessons learned' Snyder notes the experience of negotiating with reclusive regimes, the need to use 'real' not 'recycled' carrots, the importance of avoiding accusations of appeasement by demonstrating clearly the absence of cost-free alternatives, and the tailoring of policy to the target's overall goal of regime survival. There is also an excellent chapter by Cortright and Mattoo dealing with the mixed strategies pursued by major states in respect of South Africa.Political Gain and Civilian Pain is more ambitious. It seeks to relate the achievements of sanctions in political terms to the costs they impose on innocent civilians in the target state. Using empirical evidence from selected cases, the editors offer an embryonic methodology for assessing the humanitarian impact of sanctions, both contemplated and imposed, and a policy-oriented research agenda.The difficulties of weighing the costs of negative sanctions against their perceived utility plague all sanctions analysts. Many writers have elaborated the variety of goals which sanctions are designed to serve: signalling, deterrence, compliance, punishment. It is also well-know that domestic pressures in sender states are often the strongest motivating factors. All this makes it extremely difficult to handle the 'political gain' side of the equation. …