On Sanctions and the Enforcement of International Law
Journal: Nordic Journal of International Law
Year: 2025

Abstract Sanctions are often seen as a tool for the enforcement of international law. This article argues that sanctions cannot function as a legitimate tool for enforcement in this context because, as presently designed and deployed, they lack authority in the Razian sense. This is a result of the fact there is a necessary connection between legitimate authority and the rule of law ( rol ). Evaluating sanctions practice through a rol lens reveals that sanctions do not meet basic rol standards.