Open to Debate, in partnership with the Human Rights Foundation and the Oslo Freedom Forum, is examining a strategy employed by many countries to respond to aggressive or authoritarian regimes. In recent years, these have been levied against countries such as Russia, Venezuela, and Iran, which have ranged from freezing assets and trade bans to travel restrictions and full embargoes. But do sanctions work in deterring repression?Those arguing that they’re effective claim that they’re a nonviolent way to force changeand serve as a deterrent for other countries. Those who are skeptical aboutthe efficacy of sanctions say they are leaky, don’t lead to regime change, and can harm civilians and exacerbate humanitarian crises.Now with this background, we debate the question: Are Sanctions an Effective Policy Tool?This debate was produced in partnership with the Human Rights Foundation at the Oslo Freedom Forum in Oslo, Norway, on May 26, 2025.
Founded directly after Israel’s establishment, UNRWA was established to temporarily assist Palestinian refugees displaced by the war. Decades later, it continues to provide services to almost six million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank,…
Magic mushrooms, MDMA, and Ketamine. These psychedelic drugs, once a taboo, might not be as harmful as we thought. Some scientific studies have shown evidence that psychedelic drugs, when used in controlled therapeutic settings, may…
Live NYC Event In the year since the beginning of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the question of proportionality in response to October 7th has taken center stage. Both sides have reported high death…
As the war between Israel and Hamas is ongoing, the nonpartisan debate series Open to Debate in partnership with the Council on Foreign Relations is taking a closer look at one proposed solution to end…
Marriage has long been considered a goal to aspire to and a conventional path to happiness. But over the last few decades, the traditional view of marriage as the cornerstone of adult life has been questioned. Changes in…
Conflict is not reserved for politics or public policy — it also happens within relationships. Couples have arguments over what’s happening behind closed doors, their beliefs, and how to navigate the future together. However, it’s through…
Open to Debate, in partnership with the Human Rights Foundation and the Oslo Freedom Forum, is examining a strategy employed by many countries to respond to aggressive or authoritarian regimes. In recent years, these have been levied against countries such as Russia, Venezuela, and Iran, which have ranged from freezing assets and trade bans to travel restrictions and full embargoes. But do sanctions work in deterring repression? Those arguing that they’re effective claim that they’re a nonviolent way to force change and serve…
Open to Debate, in partnership with the Human Rights Foundation and the Oslo Freedom Forum, is examining a strategy employed by many countries to respond to aggressive or authoritarian regimes. In recent years, these have…