Do sanctions actually help or hurt the people in a country?

1. 62

   nightwork4posted 13 years ago

   Do sanctions actually help or hurt the people in a country?
   
   sanctions are being implemented against lybia, will it help or just hurt the general population?

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2. 78

   dallas93444posted 13 years ago

   Both....
   Con:
   Sanctions are not useful because of the implicit assumptions attached to them.Sanctions are useful only when viewed within the context of economics, but economics that takes into account a variety of different organizing principles. Not every country uses a free market capitalist system. For instance, if a small country faced sanctions but was an autarchy, meaning it produced all of its goods, then the sanctions would be useless. Further, it assumes that the country would be unable to find other partners to make up for the trade deficit resulting from sanctions. Finally, the last assumption that proves incorrect is that all countries will act in unison. Frequently international players have divided loyalties, and thus will not always act together for the purpose of sanctions.
   
   For:
   Yes, because sanctions work, and are effective in many different ways.Sanctions normally only work to pressure smaller countries into abiding by the laws of the governing NATO nations. A majority of smaller countries rely on bigger countries to supply them with most of their goods, such as foods, building materials and raw goods. Most of the time, these smaller nation will have to give in to the larger nation in order to meet the demand to sustain their government

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3. 74

   Zubair Ahmedposted 13 years ago

   What gives any country the right to sanction another is debatable.  But in reality the sanctions do not work they only hurt the general populous like those in Iraq before the war.  It breeds resentment towards the country that instigated the sanctions.  Given the history and inclinations of the countries in the world that have the power to sanction other countries,I would say it is a play ground bully mentality - you either do what I tell you or you'll get it where it hurts - like USA with Iran over the so called nuclear energy issue.

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4. 0

   sinisa_sinaposted 13 years ago

   It will hurt people. The crime will rise, smuggling of all kind will became main occupation. Prices will rise, poor will be destitute, and those who was rich will be richer. Sanctions are bad for people, and the county.

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5. 60

   Mark Upshawposted 13 years ago

   When the US or UN imposes sanctions, the value of those goods and services go through the roof.  Guess who is still there selling those goods and services,the same companies and institutions that were there before, but making a higher profit using shell companies as "middle men" to cover their tracks. In the cases where this does not happen, there are plenty of other countries that do not follow the sanctions and the UN probably does this to shift the balance of power or money flow. 
   
   When the US does not sell to a country, then China or Russia steps in.  Either way, those countries receive what they need with the exception of the guy on the street. Due to the high cost of those goods, only the wealthy and connected have access to them.
   
   The UN is like a great big carnivore cat - a fat house cat that eats from a can, not the lion of the jungle that it should be.

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6. 78

   navneetjhaposted 13 years ago

   It works both ways...India Pak both were sanctioned in 1998. India is now developing fast..Pakistan failed..

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