Unilateral Sanctions in International Relations

This book deals with unilateral measures in international relations. Since the 1950s, despite the occasional resort to armed force by states, use of non-military force has become prevalent in international affairs. Often, such use of force was done collectively, via United Nations (“UN”) sanctions—economic, diplomatic, or otherwise—under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. However, in the past few years, “sanctions” took a different turn. The book examines the European Union’s (“EU”) overreliance on restrictive measures as a central tool of its foreign policy, exploring the paradox of an organization grounded in liberal principles but increasingly employing realist strategies. It adopts a two-staged analysis. The first stage examines whether these restrictive measures comply with international law, assessing the correct terminology and legal classification. The second stage explores the interests and strategic considerations driving the EU's decisions to impose such measures. Overall, this interdisciplinary study concludes that EU restrictive measures function as a hybrid instrument, combining strategic self-interest with liberal rhetoric, reflecting the EU's evolving role as both a sui generis organization and a geopolitical force.