POINT/COUNTERPOINT

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POINT/COUNTERPOINT

The Quandary of Economic Sanctions

by Gabriel Eckstein

Economic sanctions as a means of achieving political change have become commonplace amongst the world community. Often, the objective espoused by the nation or group of nations seeking their use has been the enforcement of human rights. Countries like Cuba, Iraq, South Africa, and Haiti, historically inimical to human rights protection, have all been the focus of such initiatives. Though generally well-intentioned, many of these efforts caused serious humanitarian consequences to the populations of the target countries.

Whether economic sanctions are an effective tool for advancing individual liberty and human dignity is a question that transcends the political perspective of human rights ana reaches the realm of ethics and morality. It challenges the basic sense of right and wrong and further questions whether the creation of an environment of deprivation and- economic need among the general populace, at least on a temporary basis, justifies the greater goal of advancing human rights.

POINT: Economic Sanctions and Human Rights: A Delicate Balance

Michael P. Malloy is Visiting Professor of Law at the Washington College of Law, American University, and Professor of Law at Fordham University School of Law. He served as Attorney- Adviser (1977-1980) and Acting Chief Counsel (1985) for the Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he administered sanctions programs. He is the author of Economic Sanctions and U.S. Trade (1990 & 1995 Supp.), published by Little, Brown & Co.

COUNTERPOINT: Humanitarian Sanctions? The Moral and Political Issues

David Cortright is President of the Fourth Freedom Foundation, a privately-operated foundation which advocates the abolition of nuclear weapons and the use of economic sanctions and incentives as alternatives to military violence. The Forum is currently co-sponsoring a "Sanctions and Humanitarianism" project to examine the interrelated issues of humanitarian impact and sanctions effectiveness. Mr. Cortright is also a visiting fellow at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame and assistant professor in the Peace Studies department at Goshen College. From 1977 to 1987, he served as executive director of SANE, the largest peace organization in the United States.

Point/Counterpoint is a regular feature of The Human Rights Brief. The purpose of the section is to encourage meaningful, intellectual discussion on contemporary issues in human rights and humanitarian law through the presentation of two diverse, though not necessarily opposing, opinions on the subject at hand. Commentaries for the Point/Counterpoint section are generally solicited by The Brief; however, the Editorial Board welcomes submissions, comments and suggestions. The newsletter does not facilitate exchange of the authors' compositions prior to publication. The views expressed in the Point/Counterpoint section are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of The Human Rights Brief, the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, or their Directors or staff.

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