Introduction to the research handbook on economic sanctions

The chapter introduces and contextualizes the contributions to the Research Handbook on Economic Sanctions. It reviews recent literature and discusses trends in sanction application and analysis. It details the sharp increase during two sanction waves in the contradictory historical contexts of the 1990s and 2010s. It discusses the apparent lack of convergence in findings in the literature. A discourse analysis shows that the attributes ineffective, ineffectiveness, punishment and reward get a stronger foothold in the academic and policy debate during the first sanction wave. The chapter argues the case for research synthesis and stresses the need for an innovative use of country studies.