Geography
International Pressure and Sanctions as Tools to Reverse Autocratization
Quick fact
Targeted sanctions—like asset freezes and travel bans on individual leaders—have become the most common tool for international pressure, but studies show they succeed in reversing autocratization less than 20% of the time, often because they strengthen nationalist narratives.
Why this is interesting
When a country's leader starts dismantling democracy, foreign governments often respond with sanctions. But can cutting off trade or freezing assets actually force them to stop?