What is the common examiner trap about Intl. Relations in UPSC exams?

They may ask about the 'success' of sanctions in achieving regime change (they generally fail) or confuse unilateral vs. multilateral sanctions. Another trap is attributing the humanitarian crisis solely to the target nation's governance, ignoring the role of external sanctions.

What should UPSC aspirants remember about Intl. Relations for Prelims?

1. Target this Data: 38 million deaths linked to sanctions since 1970 (Lancet Study). 2. Target this Nodal Body: US State Department (for historical policy formulation). 3. Target this Case Study: Iraq sanctions and blocking of humanitarian goods (Joy Gordon's 'Invisible War').

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US Sanctions Linked to 38 Million Deaths Since 1970; Cuba Faces 22-Hour Blackouts, Fuel Shortage

Q: Which US government department was responsible for the 1960 memo outlining sanctions policy against Cuba, as mentioned in the article?

Department of State, The article explicitly mentions an 'April 1960 State Department memo' that outlined the policy to weaken Cuba's economy. The State Department handles foreign policy and diplomacy.

Q: Consider the following statements regarding economic sanctions as discussed in the article: 1. A Lancet study finds that unilateral sanctions since 1970 are associated with 38 million deaths globally. 2. Robert Pape's 1997 study provides strong social science support for the effectiveness of sanctions in achieving major foreign policy goals. 3. Sanctions often lead to increased government repression and reduced likelihood of bottom-up regime change in the target country. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as per the article. Statement 2 is incorrect; Robert Pape's study 'Why Economic Sanctions Do Not Work' argues there is 'little valid social science support' for their effectiveness. Statement 3 is correct, summarizing the article's argument that sanctions consolidate regimes.

Q: According to the Lancet study cited in the article, how many deaths are associated with unilateral sanctions imposed by the US and EU since the year 1970?

38 million, The article states: 'A recent Lancet study finds that unilateral sanctions imposed by the US and EU since 1970 are associated with 38 million deaths across the world.' The other options are plausible but incorrect distractors.

Q: What is the primary critique presented in the article regarding the outcome of economic sanctions on countries like Cuba and Iran?

They fail to achieve policy goals while causing severe humanitarian suffering., The article's core argument is that sanctions do not work for regime change (they often have the opposite effect) and instead create humanitarian crises, as seen with Cuba's blackouts and the global death toll. The other options contradict the article's analysis.

Intl. Relations PolityHIGH

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingPrelims MediumMains High

22 May 2026

~2 min

Source: Indian Express

Key Data:38 million deaths22-hour blackoutsApril 1960

Bodies:US State DepartmentWhite House

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~2 min · Quick mode

What This Article Covers

1.US sanctions on Cuba have led to critical fuel shortages, causing 22-hour daily blackouts and impacting healthcare, while a recent Lancet study links unilateral sanctions since 1970 to 38 million deaths globally.

2.Historical analysis reveals a 1960 US State Department memo explicitly aimed to cause 'hunger, desperation' in Cuba to overthrow the government, highlighting sanctions as a tool of compellence rather than human rights protection.

3.Academic studies (Pape, 1997; Peksen, 2009) conclude sanctions frequently fail their policy goals, increase state repression, and disproportionately harm civilian populations, making them a critical topic for ethics and governance questions.

The Big Picture

Prelims · MediumMains · High

This analysis critically examines the long-term impact of unilateral US sanctions, arguing they fail to achieve regime change but instead cause severe humanitarian crises. For exam aspirants, it provides crucial case studies (Cuba, Iraq, Iran) and data on the efficacy and ethics of sanctions as a foreign policy tool, a recurring theme in International Relations.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Lancet Study FindingSanctions since 1970 linked to 38 million deaths

Cuba Blackout DurationUp to 22 hours per day

Key Academic StudyRobert Pape, 'Why Economic Sanctions Do Not Work' (1997)

US Policy Memo DateApril 1960

1-Minute Revision

›Lancet Study Finding: Sanctions since 1970 linked to 38 million deaths
›Cuba Blackout Duration: Up to 22 hours per day
›Target this Data: 38 million deaths linked to sanctions since 1970 (Lancet Study).
›Target this Nodal Body: US State Department (for historical policy formulation).
›Target this Case Study: Iraq sanctions and blocking of humanitarian goods (Joy Gordon's 'Invisible War').

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News Snapshot

⚖️

Sanctions & Human Cost

A Lancet study associates unilateral US/EU sanctions since 1970 with approximately 38 million deaths worldwide.

🔋

Humanitarian Crisis in Cuba

Cuba faces severe fuel shortages, leading to 22-hour daily blackouts and doctors manually operating ventilators due to US sanctions and suspended Venezuelan/Mexican shipments.

📚

Academic Consensus

Multiple studies conclude economic sanctions often fail to achieve foreign policy goals, increase government repression, and disproportionately harm civilian populations.

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

The US has employed economic sanctions as a primary tool of foreign policy and 'compellence' since the Cold War, particularly against nations outside its sphere of influence like Cuba, Iran, Iraq, and North Korea. The 1959 Cuban Revolution established it as a long-term target, with a 1960 State Department memo outlining a strategy to cause economic deprivation to overthrow Fidel Castro.

Core Analysis & Implications

The article presents a damning critique of sanctions' efficacy and ethics. Data shows severe humanitarian impact (38 million deaths per Lancet) and case studies like Iraq, where humanitarian goods were blocked. Academics argue sanctions consolidate target regimes, increase repression, and fail policy goals, while the burden falls on civilians, not elites. This challenges the narrative of sanctions as a humane alternative to military action.

Future Outlook / Way Forward

The debate centers on smarter sanctions like targeted asset freezes and travel bans, though evidence for their success is limited. For India, a rising power, this analysis is crucial for formulating a principled stance on unilateral sanctions in multilateral forums. It underscores the need for diplomacy over coercion and evaluating the humanitarian impact of foreign policy tools.

Key Facts at a Glance

Lancet Study FindingSanctions since 1970 linked to 38 million deaths

Cuba Blackout DurationUp to 22 hours per day

Key Academic StudyRobert Pape, 'Why Economic Sanctions Do Not Work' (1997)

US Policy Memo DateApril 1960

You've read the full analysis. Now test your understanding.

Practice exam-style questions based on this article.

Q1Static LinkageEasyUPSC, SSC

Which US government department was responsible for the 1960 memo outlining sanctions policy against Cuba, as mentioned in the article?

Q2Statement-basedHardUPSC

Consider the following statements regarding economic sanctions as discussed in the article:

1. A Lancet study finds that unilateral sanctions since 1970 are associated with 38 million deaths globally.

2. Robert Pape's 1997 study provides strong social science support for the effectiveness of sanctions in achieving major foreign policy goals.

3. Sanctions often lead to increased government repression and reduced likelihood of bottom-up regime change in the target country.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMediumUPSC, SSC

According to the Lancet study cited in the article, how many deaths are associated with unilateral sanctions imposed by the US and EU since the year 1970?

Q4Application/ImpactMediumUPSC, SSC

What is the primary critique presented in the article regarding the outcome of economic sanctions on countries like Cuba and Iran?

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US Sanctions Linked to 38 Million Deaths Since 1970; Cuba Faces 22-Hour Blackouts, Fuel Shortage

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

1-Minute Revision

News Snapshot

Sanctions & Human Cost

Humanitarian Crisis in Cuba

Academic Consensus

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

Core Analysis & Implications

Future Outlook / Way Forward

Prelims Flashpoints

Key Facts at a Glance