Do economic sanctions turn the public against the target government or cause it to rally around the flag
Research gap analysis derived from 3 economics papers in our local library.
The gap
The majority of sanctions fail to fully change the behavior of targeted governments in ways that meet the sender's intended goals. There is a need to understand how external forces can affect popular opinion on democracy. The study identifies a gap in the literature on the effects of democratic sanctions on public opinion in targeted countries.
Evidence profile
Sourced from the abstract and stated research gap of the source papers, classified as general, spanning 3 journals.
Research trend
Established — well-defined area with open sub-problems.
Supporting evidence — 3 representative gaps
- Political backlash of economic sanctions: evidence from Beijing’s restriction on cross-strait tourism (2026) · Journal of Peace Research · doi
Abstract How do economic sanctions affect the political attitudes of individuals working in targeted industries within sanctioned countries? More specifically, do economic sanctions diminish or bolster their political support for incumbent governments? Despite the significance of these questions for understanding the effectiveness of sanctions, existing evidence remains inconclusive.
generalabstractevidence 5/5Keywords: sanctions economic political abstract affect attitudes individuals working targeted industries within sanctioned countries specifically diminish - Echoes of hostility: Democratic sanctions and public backlash against democracy in targeted states (2026) · European Journal of Political Research · doi
The majority of sanctions fail to fully change the behavior of targeted governments in ways that meet the sender's intended goals. There is a need to understand how external forces can affect popular opinion on democracy. The study identifies a gap in the literature on the effects of democratic sanctions on public opinion in targeted countries.
generalstated research gapevidence 5/5Keywords: majority sanctions fail fully change behavior targeted governments - The Cornered Mouse: Sanctioned Elites and Authoritarian Realignment in the Japanese Legislature, 1936–1942 (2026) · American Political Science Review · doi
The conventional view is that sanctions prompt elites to advocate international policy change, but there is a lack of understanding of how sanctions affect authoritarian consolidation. There is a need to examine the response of economic elites to the erosion of democratic checks and balances. The study fills this gap by analyzing the effects of economic sanctions and wartime procurement on legislators' voting behavior.
generalstated research gapevidence 5/5Keywords: conventional view sanctions prompt elites advocate international policy
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