Unilateral Sanctions in International Relations
This book deals with unilateral measures in international relations. Since the 1950s, despite the occasional resort to armed force by states, use of non-military force has become prevalent in international affairs. Often, such use of force was done collectively, via United Nations (“UN”) sanctions—economic, diplomatic, or otherwise—under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. However, in the past few years, “sanctions” took a different turn. The book examines the European Union’s (“EU”) overreliance on restrictive measures as a central tool of its foreign policy, exploring the paradox of an organization grounded in liberal principles but increasingly employing realist strategies. It adopts a two-staged analysis. The first stage examines whether these restrictive measures comply with international law, assessing the correct terminology and legal classification. The second stage explores the interests and strategic considerations driving the EU's decisions to impose such measures. Overall, this interdisciplinary study concludes that EU restrictive measures function as a hybrid instrument, combining strategic self-interest with liberal rhetoric, reflecting the EU's evolving role as both a sui generis organization and a geopolitical force.
Özge Karsu is a J.S.D. candidate at Cornell Law School, Graduate Research Fellow at Koç University Maritime Forum, and Managing Editor of American Society of International Law’s International Law in Brief. She holds an LL.M., with Highest Honors, from the George Washington University Law School, where she was a Thomas Buergenthal Scholar. She also holds an M.A. in Political Science and International Relations, a B.A. in International Relations, and an LL.B. from Koç University. Before beginning her doctoral studies, she worked as a Publications and Research Intern at the American Society of International Law, a Research Assistant at the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, and a Research and Teaching Assistant at Koç University. Her research focuses on public international law, international dispute settlement, and the relationship between international law and international relations. Her work takes an interdisciplinary approach, combining legal analysis with insights from international relations.