Evaluating the Humanitarian Effects of UN Sanctions : A Pre- and Post-1997 Comparison

This thesis investigates the humanitarian impact of United Nations sanctions by examining their effects on life expectancy, child mortality, and maternal mortality in sanctioned states between 1989 and 2015. It compares the outcomes of traditional comprehensive sanctions with the post-1997 “smart” sanctions model, which was designed to minimize harm to civilian populations while maintaining political pressure on targeted regimes. Utilizing a multivariate analysis of variance or MANOVA of public health indicators in states sanctioned by the UN, the study assesses whether the shift in UN sanctions policy has led to measurable improvements in humanitarian outcomes. The outcome of the MANOVA found that there is a statistical significance on the dependent variables before and after 1997. While life expectancy and child mortality saw positive outcomes post 1997, maternal mortality worsened post 1997. The findings contribute to ongoing debates in international relations regarding the ethical and practical implications of sanctions as a foreign policy tool. This research is situated within broader theoretical discussions on global governance, human security, and coercive diplomacy, and it aims to inform more responsible sanctions policy moving forward.