Are Economic Sanctions a Humane Alternative to War, or are they Simply another Tool of Coercion?

Sanctions have been in use since time immemorial for shaping interstate relations between nations and to coerce weaker nations into submission. However, since the end of the Cold War, the use of sanctions as a tool for statecraft has seen a dramatic increase as developed nations have tried to avoid costly military confrontations. The most prolific and efficient use of sanctions was witnessed during the Gulf Crisis, when attempts were made to weaken the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein prior to a military confrontation. This brief essay presents a discussion about whether sanctions are a humane alternative to war or simply another tool for coercion in statecraft.