Whenever a new conflict arises, or a country does something the United States doesn't like, the first thing done is to slap on some sanctions. With the number of sanctioned countries, entities, people, and industries seemingly increasing every day (Russia at the start of 2024 had over 18,000 individual sanctions levied against them) it is important to ask the questions about what are sanctions, how do the function, and are they effective.
Through this conversation with Dr. Bruce Jentleson of Duke University this episodes explores these key questions to help the audience better understand why sanctions tend to be viewed as a Swiss-army knife, or weapon of first resort, for reacting to a whole range of global issues. The conversation also dives into the preeminent role the United States has carved out for itself in utilizing this global tool, but is not the only government or institution to reach for sanctions as a way to modify other's behavior.
Bruce W. Jentleson is the William Preston Few Professor of Public Policy and Professor of Political Science at Duke University. Other positions include Global Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (also a 2022 Distinguished Fellow in residence) and Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. He was the longtime Co-Director and now Senior Advisor for the Bridging the Gap project promoting greater policy engagement among academics.
Career awards include the 2018 American Political Science Association (APSA) International Security Section Joseph J. Kruzel Award for Distinguished Public Service; the 2020 Duke University Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award; and the 1985 APSA Harold D. Lasswell Award for his doctoral dissertation. He holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University.
His most recent books are Economic Sanctions: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford University Press, 2022) and The Peacemakers: Leadership Lessons from 20th Century Statesmanship (W.W. Norton, 2018). Recent articles include “Beyond the Rhetoric: A Globally Credible U.S. Role for a ‘Rules-Based Order’,” The Washington Quarterly (Fall 2023); “American Consensus on Ukraine Has Fractured” ForeignPolicy.com, March 29, 2023; “Who’s Winning the Sanctions War?” ForeignPolicy.com, August 18, 2022; “Refocusing U.S. Grand Strategy on Pandemic and Environmental Mass Destruction,” The Washington Quarterly (Fall 2020); and “Be Wary of China Threat Inflation,” ForeignPolicy.com (7/29/21).
He has served in a number of US foreign policy positions including Senior Advisor to the State Department Policy Planning Director (2009-11), a senior foreign policy advisor to the 2000 Gore presidential campaign, in the Clinton administration State Department (1993-94), and as a foreign policy aide to Senators Gore (1987-88) and Dave Durenberger (1978-79).