📋 Written Ability Test (WAT)/Essay Analysis Guide
🌍 The Role of International Sanctions in Promoting Human Rights and Democratic Governance
🌟 Understanding the Topic’s Importance
🌐 Sanctions, as non-violent geopolitical tools, have profound implications for international relations, economics, and governance. Their relevance spans economic, political, and humanitarian domains, making them a vital topic for B-school discussions.
🕒 Effective Planning and Writing
- ⏱️ Time Allocation:
- Planning: 5 minutes
- Writing: 20 minutes
- Review: 5 minutes
- 🖋️ Preparation Tips: Research recent examples, their impact on human rights, and counter-arguments.
✍️ Introduction Techniques
- ⚖️ Contrast Approach:
“While sanctions aim to promote global justice, their efficacy remains contentious as autocratic regimes adapt to sanctions while civilians suffer.”
- 💡 Solution-Based Approach:
“Sanctions must evolve into a balanced tool, combining ethical enforcement with measures to mitigate humanitarian impacts.”
📚 Structuring the Essay Body
- 🏆 Achievements: Discuss cases like South Africa and Iran, highlighting success metrics.
- ⚠️ Challenges: Focus on failures such as prolonged sanctions in Cuba and humanitarian crises in Yemen.
- 🔮 Future Outlook: Propose measures like multilateral sanctions and integrating humanitarian safeguards.
🔑 Concluding Effectively
- ⚖️ Balanced Conclusion:
“While sanctions have proven their potential, their future success requires refining strategies to ensure ethical and effective implementation.”
- 🌍 Global Perspective:
“Sanctions, as tools of governance, must evolve to balance global ethics and realpolitik for a sustainable impact.”
📄 Sample Short Essays
- ⚖️ Balanced Perspective:
“Sanctions serve as ethical instruments, yet their success depends on strategic execution and minimizing civilian harm.”
- 💡 Solution-Oriented:
“To enhance efficacy, sanctions must integrate humanitarian carve-outs and multilateral enforcement mechanisms.”
- 🌍 Global Comparison:
“The contrast between South Africa’s successful sanctions and Cuba’s prolonged suffering underscores the need for adaptable frameworks.”

