Building effective sanction regimes against nuclear proliferation
The Centre for Science and Security Studies (CSSS) has established a research programme dedicated to overcoming the challenges to effective sanctions governance and implementation.
The project sets out to understand the functions and limits of sanctions as a non-proliferation instrument. It also seeks to craft effective sanctions regimes against nuclear proliferation, increase the political will and technical capacity of international, national, and sub-national authorities to implement sanctions, as well as monitor and stifling sanctions evasion.
Sanctions are an integral part of the global non-proliferation regime, allowing states to place meaningful pressure on others to abandon WMD programs without recourse to military intervention. Over time the role of sanctions in non-proliferation has expanded and diversified, leading to a complex ecosystem of political and commercial stakeholders with competing agendas and vested interests.
In parallel, dedicated networks of sanctions evaders are operating all over the world and refining methods for circumventing sanctions through the exploitation of emerging technologies, changes in global patterns of trade, and new relationships with illicit entities.