📋 WAT/Essay Analysis Guide: Can International Sanctions Deter Countries from Engaging in Conflict?

🌐 Understanding the Topic’s Importance

Sanctions are pivotal in diplomacy, linking economics, governance, and ethics. For B-schools, analyzing their effectiveness helps understand economic policies, global governance, and their role in maintaining peace.

📝 Effective Planning and Writing

• ⏳ Time Allocation:
• Planning: 5 minutes
• Writing: 20 minutes
• Review: 5 minutes
• 💡 Preparation Tips:
• List key examples like Russia, South Africa, and Iran.
• Include data on economic impacts and geopolitical outcomes.

💡 Introduction Techniques for Essays

• 🔄 Contrast Approach: “While sanctions seek peace without war, their outcomes often oscillate between success and humanitarian crises.”
• 🌟 Solution-Based Approach: “To deter conflicts effectively, sanctions need a blend of economic precision and humanitarian safeguards.”

📚 Structuring the Essay Body

• 🏆 Achievements: Cite successful sanctions like those against apartheid South Africa, which led to systemic change.
• ⚠️ Challenges: Highlight cases of failure, e.g., Venezuela and North Korea, where sanctions did not achieve their intended goals and worsened humanitarian conditions.
• 🌟 Future Outlook: Propose innovative sanctions mechanisms, such as cyber sanctions or more targeted measures to affect ruling elites rather than populations.

🔑 Concluding Effectively

• ⚖️ Balanced Approach: “Sanctions have their place but require refinement to maximize effectiveness and minimize humanitarian harm.”
• 🌍 Global Comparison: “International cooperation, like in the Iran nuclear deal, underscores sanctions’ potential when backed by diplomacy.”

🌿 Recommendations for Sustainable Progress

• 🤝 Encourage Diplomatic Engagement: Use sanctions alongside robust diplomatic efforts to open communication channels.
• 💻 Leverage Technology: Prevent circumvention through advanced monitoring and cyber measures.
• ⚖️ Establish International Oversight: Ensure fair application and accountability to prevent misuse.

📄 Sample Short Essays

• ⚖️ Balanced Perspective: “While sanctions aim to deter conflicts, their uneven success highlights the need for complementary strategies like diplomacy and targeted measures.”
• 💡 Solution-Oriented: “Refined sanctions, coupled with international diplomacy, could pave the way for more effective conflict resolution.”
• 🌍 Global Comparison: “From Libya to Cuba, sanctions’ effectiveness depends on strategic application and robust international support.”