The impact of economic sanctions on sustainable development in Iran
Author(s)
Hakim, Shirin
Type
Thesis
Abstract
This thesis develops a theoretical model for examining the impact of economic sanctions on sustainable development in a target state, using the example of Iran. The study is motivated
by Iran’s extensive experience under economic sanctions, which began in 1979 and have continued for over 40 years. This study places a particular focus on the multilateral phase of
sanctions (2006-2016) when the United States, European Union, and United Nations Security Council collectively sanctioned Iran in an effort to deter their nuclear development
programme. Scholarship addressing the impact of sanctions on sustainable development is limited, with studies typically focusing on the efficacy of sanctions or their humanitarian
impacts. With growing concerns over the global impacts of climate change, exploring how foreign policy tools can influence sustainable development efforts is increasingly important.
Adopting a systems theory approach to building grounded theory, 32 interviews were conducted with Iranian industry and sectorial experts to develop a theoretical framework that
considers the impact of sanctions on the economic, social, and environmental pillars of sustainable development. The interview transcripts were coded to produce CLDs which
informed the construction of a theoretical model, the Systems Theory of Sanctions (STS) model. The STS model was substantiated with extant literature to explain how sanctions
impacted sustainable development outcomes in Iran and their spillover effects more broadly. The STS model explains how sanctions act as a perturbation to yield concessions from
targeted states and demonstrates how their secondary impacts can counteract sustainable development outcomes, lead to maladaptive responses/coping mechanisms within the
targeted state, and worsen pre-existing compounding factors that constrain environmental protection efforts. Drawing on the STS model, several policy recommendations were
developed to inform more sustainable sanctions policy and explain how the global community can assist targeted countries, like Iran, to sustainably develop under economic and political constraints.
by Iran’s extensive experience under economic sanctions, which began in 1979 and have continued for over 40 years. This study places a particular focus on the multilateral phase of
sanctions (2006-2016) when the United States, European Union, and United Nations Security Council collectively sanctioned Iran in an effort to deter their nuclear development
programme. Scholarship addressing the impact of sanctions on sustainable development is limited, with studies typically focusing on the efficacy of sanctions or their humanitarian
impacts. With growing concerns over the global impacts of climate change, exploring how foreign policy tools can influence sustainable development efforts is increasingly important.
Adopting a systems theory approach to building grounded theory, 32 interviews were conducted with Iranian industry and sectorial experts to develop a theoretical framework that
considers the impact of sanctions on the economic, social, and environmental pillars of sustainable development. The interview transcripts were coded to produce CLDs which
informed the construction of a theoretical model, the Systems Theory of Sanctions (STS) model. The STS model was substantiated with extant literature to explain how sanctions
impacted sustainable development outcomes in Iran and their spillover effects more broadly. The STS model explains how sanctions act as a perturbation to yield concessions from
targeted states and demonstrates how their secondary impacts can counteract sustainable development outcomes, lead to maladaptive responses/coping mechanisms within the
targeted state, and worsen pre-existing compounding factors that constrain environmental protection efforts. Drawing on the STS model, several policy recommendations were
developed to inform more sustainable sanctions policy and explain how the global community can assist targeted countries, like Iran, to sustainably develop under economic and political constraints.
Version
Open Access
Date Issued
2022-11-30
Date Awarded
01/03/2024
Copyright Statement
Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial Licence
License URL
Advisor
Makuch, Karen
Madani, Kaveh
Publisher Department
Centre for Environmental Policy
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)