In 1924, British economist John Maynard Keynes argued that aiding our allies is more effective than sanctioning our foes, and that lesson should be heeded today, writes Nicholas Mulder, assistant professor of history, in an op-ed in The Guardian.
“Advocates of economic pressure argue that sanctions will deter aggressive action and compel better behavior,” Mulder writes in the piece. “But the reality is that both the deterrent and the complement effect of US sanctions have fallen dramatically amid rampant overuse.”