Sanctions? What we know about them and how really they work? Are sanctions an useful foreign policy tool? According to the definition of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), sanctions are a system of non-military, more economic measures, applied against a state that violates agreements on international security.

Sanctions are often expressed in the cessation of diplomatic relations, the boycott of sports and cultural events, restrictions in international trade, financial transactions, movement of people, etc. The method of applying sanctions began to be used for a very long time ago. As the sanctions applied, the question arose about their effectiveness, because in many cases they not only did not lead to the desired results, but also weakened the economies of the countries of sanctions, which, accordingly, imposed them.

Sanctions are very an attractive instrument of foreign policy, since, instead of the war, they are resolve international conflicts and disagreements without any costs and human sacrifice. But if we look at the global politics over the last twenty years are sanctions really resolve problems?

Firstly, sanctions impose both an economy on the object of their application and their initiator. In this case, an illustrative example of the EU countries, which often introduces them under the pressure of another's political will.

Secondly, using of sanctions they demonstrate the inability to have normal political dialogue and negotiation, and the use force against the opponent. 

Thirdly, as a consequence of the previous statement, the sanctions did not contribute to the elimination of their causes. They only exacerbate the contradictions and aggravate the relationship between the countries.

Fourth, sanctions as a tool is very subjective. The country that has the capability to apply them, as a rule, uses them in its own interests, not the interests of the world community or international law.