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Los Angeles Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Rethink sanctions. They're killing as many people as war does
Broad economic sanctions, most of which are imposed by the U.S. government, kill hundreds of thousands of innocent people each year — disproportionately children. This week the Lancet Global Health journal published an article that estimated that number at about 564,000 annually over a decade. This is comparable to the annual deaths around the world from armed conflict. Sanctions are becoming the preferred weapon of the United States and some allies — not because they are less destructive than military action, but more likely because the toll is less visible. They can devastate food systems and hospitals and silently kill people without the gruesome videos of body parts in tent camps and cafes bombed from the air. They offer policymakers something that can deliver the deadly impact of war, even against civilians, without the political cost. The above estimate of 564,000 annual deaths from sanctions is based on an analysis of data from 152 countries over 10 years. The study was by economists Francisco Rodríguez, Silvio Rendón and myself. It's a horrifying finding, but not surprising to economists, statisticians and other researchers who have investigated these impacts of economic sanctions. These are measures that target the entire economy, or a part of it that most of the rest of the economy depends on, such as the financial sector or a predominant export, for example in oil-exporting economies. The sanctions can block access to essential imports such as medicine and food and the necessary infrastructure and spare parts to maintain drinkable water, including electrical systems. Damage to the economy can sometimes be even more deadly than just the blocking of critical, life-sustaining imports. Venezuela is an example of a country that suffered all of these impacts, and the case is far more well-documented than for most of the now 25% of countries under sanctions (up from 8% in the 1960s). In Venezuela, the first year of sanctions under the first Trump administration took tens of thousands of lives. Then things got even worse, as the U.S. cut off the country from the international financial system and oil exports, froze billions of dollars of assets and imposed 'secondary sanctions' on countries that tried to do business with Venezuela. Venezuela experienced the worst depression, without a war, in world history. This was from 2012 to 2020, with the economy contracting by 71% — more than three times the severity of the Great Depression in the U.S. in the 1930s. Most of this was found to be the result of the sanctions. Our study found that a majority of people who died as a result of sanctions in all countries were children under 5. This atrocity is consistent with prior research. Medical studies have found that children in this age group become much more susceptible to death from childhood diseases such as diarrhea, pneumonia and measles when they become malnourished. These results are also consistent with statistical studies by the Bank of International Settlements and other statisticians and economists who find that recessions in developing countries substantially increase death rates. Of course, the destruction caused by sanctions, as above, can be many times worse than the average recession. In 2021, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) wrote a letter to then-President Biden, asking him to 'lift all secondary and sectoral sanctions imposed on Venezuela by the Trump Administration.' The impact of these sanctions, he said, 'is indiscriminate, and purposely so. … Economic pain is the means by which the sanctions are supposed to work. But it is not Venezuelan officials who suffer the costs. It is the Venezuelan people.' This is why U.S. sanctions are illegal under treaties the United States has signed, including the Charter of the Organization of American States. They are also prohibited during wartime under the Geneva and Hague conventions, as collective punishment of civilians. U.N. experts have argued, quite persuasively, that something that is a war crime when people are bombing and shooting each other should also be a crime when there is no such war. These sanctions also violate U.S. law. In ordering the sanctions, the president is required by U.S. law to declare that the sanctioned country is causing a 'national emergency' for the United States and poses 'an unusual and extraordinary threat' to U.S. national security. But this has almost never been true. Given the deterioration of the rule of law in the United States, and the lack of regard for human rights in America's foreign policy — and increasingly at home — it's easy to be pessimistic about the prospects for ending this economic violence. But it will end. We have seen victories against much more formidable adversaries and entrenched policies, including wars — most recently against the U.S. participation in the war in Yemen. Organized opposition got Congress to pass a related war powers resolution in 2019. This forced an end to at least some of the U.S. military support and blockade that had put millions of people at emergency levels of hunger, thereby saving thousands of lives. The CIA's formal post-9/11 torture program, which included waterboarding, was ended by executive order in 2009, after public exposure and considerable opposition. The biggest advantage of sanctions, for the policymakers who use them, is the invisibility of their toll. But that is also their Achilles' heel. When the economic violence of broad sanctions becomes widely known, they will be indefensible and no longer politically sustainable. Mark Weisbrot is co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research. He is the author of 'Failed: What the 'Experts' Got Wrong About the Global Economy.'
Straits Times
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Sanctions, on rise, are as deadly as armed conflict, study says
Unilateral and economic sanctions imposed by the US and the European Union lead to a substantial increase in mortality. Sanctions can cause as many fatalities as armed conflict, with unilateral penalties being associated with more than half a million deaths per year, according to a new analysis. Unilateral and economic sanctions imposed by the US and the European Union lead to a substantial increase in mortality that disproportionately hurts children younger than five years old, the study published in the Lancet Global Health journal found. Sanctions can hobble public health provision and keep humanitarian organisations from operating effectively, weighing on the death toll. The researchers found that unilateral sanctions cause more than 560,000 deaths each year worldwide – falling within a range that the researchers calculated for annual deaths from armed conflict using past literature and their own calculations. 'Woodrow Wilson referred to sanctions as 'something more tremendous than war.' Our evidence suggests that he was right,' authors Francisco Rodríguez, Silvio Rendón and Mark Weisbrot wrote. 'It is hard to think of other policy interventions with such adverse effects on human life that continue to be pervasively used.' The researchers, whose work was funded by the Centre for Economic and Policy Research, a progressive think tank, looked at mortality rates by age group in sanctions episodes for 152 countries between 1971 and 2021. They used four unique econometric tools to isolate the causal relationship between categories of sanctions and higher mortality rates. Their findings were consistent across all four methods: Global, economic and unilateral sanctions are all associated with higher death tolls. United Nations sanctions are not, to any statistically significant level. The term 'global sanctions' in the study refers to all penalties, whereas 'economic sanctions' are trade and financial deterrents and 'unilateral sanctions' are imposed by either the US or the EU. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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'Many times, a rogue regime will blame sanctions for all the problems of its country,' Mr Jeremy Paner, a sanctions lawyer at Hughes Hubbard, told Bloomberg before seeing the study. 'It's easy to blame the US or Brussels.' Mr Paner, who previously served as lead sanctions investigator at the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, was skeptical of the study's conclusion, emphasising that the office works to ensure that humanitarian groups can work in sanctioned countries effectively. 'The point of sanctions is to further foreign policy and American values, including humanitarian work,' he said. Mr Rodríguez, the study's lead author and an expert on sanctions and the crisis in Venezuela, countered that even if humanitarian aid is allowed into sanctioned countries, there are formidable obstacles to delivery. Banks and nonprofits often avoid interactions with the sanctioned nation regardless of the exceptions for aid. 'Saying, 'I'm going to block your oil exports, but I'm going to allow you to continue importing humanitarian goods,' is almost like saying to somebody who has just lost their job, 'Don't worry, you can still go into the store and buy whatever you want,'' Mr Rodríguez said in an interview. For decades, academics have debated how sanctions affect mortality, but have struggled to prove such a relationship. Ms Joy Gordon, who focuses on sanctions at Loyola University in Chicago, said the Lancet study offers a 'compelling argument, supported by rigorous methodology, that sanctions directly impact mortality' across age groups. The researchers urged policymakers to exercise restraint with sanctions, especially as the tool's use has ballooned. Some 25 per cent of countries were sanctioned by the US, EU or UN between 2010 and 2022 – up from 8 per cent of countries in the 1960s, according to the study, which cited Global Sanctions Database figures. 'Sanctions have their origins in economic warfare strategies such as blockade, which aimed to starve civilians,' sanctions expert Nicholas Mulder said. 'For sanctioning governments, pure intentions are no guarantee of clean hands.' BLOOMBERG
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Business Standard
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Sanctions as deadly as war, linked to mass fatalities every year: Study
Sanctions can cause as many fatalities as armed conflict, with unilateral penalties being associated with more than half a million deaths per year, according to a new analysis. Unilateral and economic sanctions imposed by the US and the European Union lead to a substantial increase in mortality that disproportionately hurts children younger than five years old, the study published in the Lancet Global Health journal found. Sanctions can hobble public health provision and keep humanitarian organisations from operating effectively, weighing on the death toll. 'Woodrow Wilson referred to sanctions as 'something more tremendous than war.' Our evidence suggests that he was right,' authors Francisco Rodríguez, Silvio Rendón and Mark Weisbrot wrote. 'It is hard to think of other policy interventions with such adverse effects on human life that continue to be pervasively used.' The researchers, whose work was funded by the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a progressive think tank, looked at mortality rates by age group in sanctions episodes for 152 countries between 1971 and 2021. They used four unique econometric tools to isolate the causal relationship between categories of sanctions and higher mortality rates. Their findings were consistent across all four methods: Global, economic and unilateral sanctions are all associated with higher death tolls. United Nations sanctions are not, to any statistically significant level. The term 'global sanctions' in the study refers to all penalties, whereas 'economic sanctions' are trade and financial deterrents and 'unilateral sanctions' are imposed by either the US or the EU. UN sanctions potentially have less impact given they're framed as efforts to minimize impact on civilian populations, the authors point out, while US sanctions often aim for regime change or shifts in political behavior, which deteriorates living conditions in target countries. 'Many times, a rogue regime will blame sanctions for all the problems of its country,' Jeremy Paner, a sanctions lawyer at Hughes Hubbard, told Bloomberg before seeing the study. 'It's easy to blame the US or Brussels.' Paner, who previously served as lead sanctions investigator at the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, was skeptical of the study's conclusion, emphasizing that OFAC works to ensure that humanitarian groups can work in sanctioned countries effectively. 'The point of sanctions is to further foreign policy and American values, including humanitarian work,' he said. Rodríguez, the study's lead author and an expert on sanctions and the crisis in Venezuela, countered that even if humanitarian aid is allowed into sanctioned countries, there are formidable obstacles to delivery. Banks and nonprofits often avoid interactions with the sanctioned nation regardless of the exceptions for aid. 'Saying, 'I'm going to block your oil exports, but I'm going to allow you to continue importing humanitarian goods,' is almost like saying to somebody who has just lost their job, 'Don't worry, you can still go into the store and buy whatever you want,'' Rodríguez said in an interview. For decades, academics have debated how sanctions affect mortality, but have struggled to prove such a relationship. Joy Gordon, who focuses on sanctions at Loyola University in Chicago, said the Lancet study offers a 'compelling argument, supported by rigorous methodology, that sanctions directly impact mortality' across age groups. The researchers urged policymakers to exercise restraint with sanctions, especially as the tool's use has ballooned. Some 25 per cent of countries were sanctioned by the US, EU or UN between 2010 and 2022 — up from 8 per cent of countries in the 1960s, according to the study, which cited Global Sanctions Database figures.
Malaysian Reserve
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Malaysian Reserve
Sanctions, on rise, are as deadly as armed conflict, study says
SANCTIONS can cause as many fatalities as armed conflict, with unilateral penalties being associated with more than half a million deaths per year, according to a new analysis. Unilateral and economic sanctions imposed by the US and the European Union lead to a substantial increase in mortality that disproportionately hurts children younger than five years old, the study published in the Lancet Global Health journal found. Sanctions can hobble public health provision and keep humanitarian organizations from operating effectively, weighing on the death toll. The researchers found that unilateral sanctions cause more than 560,000 deaths each year worldwide — falling within a range that the researchers calculated for annual deaths from armed conflict using past literature and their own calculations. 'Woodrow Wilson referred to sanctions as 'something more tremendous than war.' Our evidence suggests that he was right,' authors Francisco Rodríguez, Silvio Rendón and Mark Weisbrot wrote. 'It is hard to think of other policy interventions with such adverse effects on human life that continue to be pervasively used.' The researchers, whose work was funded by the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a progressive think tank, looked at mortality rates by age group in sanctions episodes for 152 countries between 1971 and 2021. They used four unique econometric tools to isolate the causal relationship between categories of sanctions and higher mortality rates. Their findings were consistent across all four methods: Global, economic and unilateral sanctions are all associated with higher death tolls. United Nations sanctions are not, to any statistically significant level. The term 'global sanctions' in the study refers to all penalties, whereas 'economic sanctions' are trade and financial deterrents and 'unilateral sanctions' are imposed by either the US or the EU. UN sanctions potentially have less impact given they're framed as efforts to minimize impact on civilian populations, the authors point out, while US sanctions often aim for regime change or shifts in political behavior, which deteriorates living conditions in target countries. 'Many times, a rogue regime will blame sanctions for all the problems of its country,' Jeremy Paner, a sanctions lawyer at Hughes Hubbard, told Bloomberg before seeing the study. 'It's easy to blame the US or Brussels.' Paner, who previously served as lead sanctions investigator at the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, was skeptical of the study's conclusion, emphasizing that OFAC works to ensure that humanitarian groups can work in sanctioned countries effectively. 'The point of sanctions is to further foreign policy and American values, including humanitarian work,' he said. Rodríguez, the study's lead author and an expert on sanctions and the crisis in Venezuela, countered that even if humanitarian aid is allowed into sanctioned countries, there are formidable obstacles to delivery. Banks and nonprofits often avoid interactions with the sanctioned nation regardless of the exceptions for aid. 'Saying, 'I'm going to block your oil exports, but I'm going to allow you to continue importing humanitarian goods,' is almost like saying to somebody who has just lost their job, 'Don't worry, you can still go into the store and buy whatever you want,'' Rodríguez said in an interview. For decades, academics have debated how sanctions affect mortality, but have struggled to prove such a relationship. Joy Gordon, who focuses on sanctions at Loyola University in Chicago, said the Lancet study offers a 'compelling argument, supported by rigorous methodology, that sanctions directly impact mortality' across age groups. The researchers urged policymakers to exercise restraint with sanctions, especially as the tool's use has ballooned. Some 25% of countries were sanctioned by the US, EU or UN between 2010 and 2022 — up from 8% of countries in the 1960s, according to the study, which cited Global Sanctions Database figures. –BLOOMBERG
Bloomberg
22-07-2025
- Health
- Bloomberg
Sanctions, on Rise, Are as Deadly as Armed Conflict, Study Says
Sanctions can cause as many fatalities as armed conflict, with unilateral penalties being associated with more than half a million deaths per year, according to a new analysis. Unilateral and economic sanctions imposed by the US and the European Union lead to a substantial increase in mortality that disproportionately hurts children younger than five years old, the study published in the Lancet Global Health journal found. Sanctions can hobble public health provision and keep humanitarian organizations from operating effectively, weighing on the death toll.
