Question

I appreciate the point you make that sanctions work depending on the influences of the imposing party(s). It is important to build multinational support (Masters, 2017). While the United States imposing sanctions on a single country could see some success, it will not be as effective unless a group of countries supports the sanctions. Sanctions against South Africa were semi-successful because of the group that collectively placed the sanction: the U.S., Europe, and Japan.  

Can you provide an example of a sanction not working because the imposing country lacked the influence to make it a success?

Answer 1

It is true that in order to make any sanction effective on any country by any country,organisation etc.,it is prerequisite to have considerable amount of influence over the economy,trade,currency,strategic issues etc. of the country on which sanctions are being imposed.Otherwise its effects on ground level proves to be null and desired results are not achieved.There are several such examples.Talking specifically,we can take the example of 'NORTH KOREA'.When it conducted its first nuclear test in the year 2006,UNSC and USA made an attempt to levy a number of commercial and economic sanctions against it.But North Korea ignored these and continued its mission to fulfill its ambitions.The main two reasons for that could be lack of influence and collectiveness.The economy of north korea is not so open as similar to other progressing nations.It has trade and commerce with limited number of countries.Its currency too doesn't gets much influenced by the day to day changes taking place in the world economic scenario.Its growth is limited and people there don't enjoy a standard living.It has good amount of Uranium reserves.It continued to test nuclear ballistic missiles and heavy sanctions continued on it but it couldn't effect it much as US and UN did not have much grip and required influence.The second is,it has CHINA as the largest and all weather partner with it along with Russia,South korea.These all countries play a crucial role north korean economy supplying defence goods,eatables,energy requirements and much more.If these countries would have come together tieing hands and responding accordingly,North Korea definitely would have been made bound to comply with the UNSC norms.