| One of the most enduring questions policymakers grapple with is: what approach will best achieve the desired objectives? In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, sanctions offer an effective and punitive, but non-military strategy to address terrorism and proliferation threats.; A preponderance of scholarly work view sanctions as failures, without taking into account whether these have been applied as required. In some studies, the goals are not prioritized or, at times, are defined incorrectly.; The dissertation seeks to address these deficiencies and alter the frame of reference of the current debate, viewing economic sanctions as part of a continuum of U.S. foreign policy initiatives. Goals are divided into three tiers. The first category includes, in descending order of value: (a) compellence/change in unacceptable behavior, (b) containment, and (c) deterrence (relating to other countries). The second tier includes: (a) punishing/isolating, (b) leveraging for cooperation, and (c) forcing the target to negotiation. The third tier focuses on symbolic goals.; The research shows that sanctions on Iran and Syria are effective foreign policy tools that have achieved a range of desired objectives relating to terrorism and proliferation. They are proportional to the threats posed by the target countries and are viable as pre-emptive strategy. The study also addresses the consequences of inaction or lack of enforcement and its impact on the target's pursuit of behavior deemed unacceptable by the sanctioner---the United States. The study further illustrates how sanctions not only demonstrate U.S. resolve but can also achieve international cooperation to address the target's problematic policies.; The Iran and Syria cases confirm that incremental application is counterproductive, as it enables the target to undertake efforts, including alignment with other rogue states, to offset the impact of the sanctions. The research illustrates the inter-dependence between tiers of goals and how the U.S. approach toward one target can affect the impact of sanctions on another. Based on the research, the study provides recommendations on how to increase the effectiveness of sanctions. |
