Unilateral Economic Sanctions under Public International Law

A Critical Analysis of Their Legality

Abstract

One of the most widely used tools of foreign policy is unilateral economic penalties. In order to influence the behavior of target states without using force, states and regional organizations frequently implement economic restrictions, trade embargoes, financial asset freezes, and investment prohibitions. The legitimacy of such actions under public international law is still hotly debated, nevertheless. It investigates the legal underpinnings, validity, and ramifications of unilateral economic penalties. It examines how the concepts of state sovereignty, non-intervention, sovereign equality, and the ban on coercive measures relate to unilateral sanctions. The study also assesses the differences between sanctions approved by the UN Security Council under UN Chapter VII. The paper investigates the humanitarian repercussions of sanctions, focusing on disadvantaged groups, access to essential products and socio-economic rights. the question remains whether the unilateral imposition of economic penalties for political reasons is justified.