Embargo

Definition

An embargo is a government-imposed restriction on trade with a specific country or group of countries, typically used as a foreign policy tool to exert economic pressure and influence international affairs.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Embargoes can be used to restrict the export or import of specific goods, services, or technologies to a target country.
2. Embargoes are often implemented as a response to a country's actions, such as human rights violations, military aggression, or the development of weapons of mass destruction.
3. The effectiveness of embargoes depends on the level of economic interdependence between the imposing and target countries, as well as the ability to enforce the restrictions.
4. Embargoes can have unintended consequences, such as harming innocent civilians or leading to retaliatory actions from the target country.
5. The United States has used embargoes as a foreign policy tool, including the long-standing embargo against Cuba and more recent sanctions against countries like Iran and Russia.

Review Questions

• Explain how an embargo can be used as a foreign policy instrument in the context of 17.2 Foreign Policy Instruments.
  • An embargo is a form of economic statecraft, which is the use of economic means to achieve foreign policy objectives as described in 17.2 Foreign Policy Instruments. By restricting trade with a target country, an embargo aims to exert economic pressure and influence that country's behavior or decision-making on issues of international concern. Embargoes can be used to signal disapproval, punish undesirable actions, or coerce a country to change its policies. The effectiveness of an embargo depends on the level of economic interdependence between the imposing and target countries, as well as the ability to enforce the trade restrictions.
• Analyze the potential consequences, both intended and unintended, of implementing an embargo as a foreign policy tool.
  • The intended consequences of an embargo may include influencing the target country's behavior, signaling disapproval of its actions, or punishing it for undesirable behavior. However, embargoes can also have unintended consequences, such as harming innocent civilians in the target country, leading to retaliatory actions, or causing economic hardship for the imposing country's own businesses and consumers. Additionally, the effectiveness of an embargo can be limited if the target country is able to find alternative trading partners or develop domestic substitutes for the restricted goods and services. Policymakers must carefully weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of implementing an embargo as a foreign policy instrument.
• Evaluate the role of economic interdependence in the success or failure of an embargo as a foreign policy tool.
  • The level of economic interdependence between the imposing and target countries is a critical factor in determining the effectiveness of an embargo as a foreign policy instrument. If the target country is highly dependent on trade with the imposing country, the embargo is more likely to exert significant economic pressure and influence the target's behavior. Conversely, if the target country has alternative trading partners or can develop domestic substitutes for the restricted goods and services, the embargo may be less effective. Additionally, the imposing country's own economic interests and the potential for retaliatory actions by the target country must be considered. Policymakers must carefully analyze the complex web of economic interdependence and its implications when deciding whether to implement an embargo as a foreign policy tool.

Related terms

Sanctions:

Punitive measures imposed by a government or international organization against a country, organization, or individual, often in response to actions deemed unacceptable.

Economic Statecraft: The use of economic means, such as trade, investment, and financial policies, to achieve foreign policy objectives.

Interdependence: The mutual reliance and influence between countries or entities in the global economy, where actions taken by one can have significant impacts on others.