Should We Impose Sanctions on Russia Because of the Crimea?

Abstract

This article examines the view that sanctions should be imposed on Russia because of its involvement with Crimea. Applying sanctions fails the utilitarian ethics test because sanctions result in more losers than winners. The result would be a negative-sum game. Sanctions fail the rights test because rights are necessarily violated by their imposition. It is not in the best interest of the United States to impose sanctions because the United States has little to gain and much to lose by imposing sanctions. It fails the constitutional test because there is nothing in the Constitution to permit it.

Keywords: sanctions, Russia, Crimea, utilitarian, ethics, secession, human rights, property rights, contract rights, right of association, General Welfare Clause, foreign policy

JEL Classification: A13, B13, B53, D23, D6, D86, F13, F51, I31, K11, K12, K33, N4, P14