What impact do sanctions have in international relations?

Sanctions are tools used in international relations with the primary aim of influencing the behavior of nations or groups. The correct answer highlights that sanctions are designed to exert pressure on states to change specific actions or policies, often related to issues like human rights violations, nuclear proliferation, or aggression against other states.

However, while they aim to influence governmental behavior, sanctions can lead to unintended humanitarian issues. For instance, economic sanctions may restrict access to essential goods, healthcare, and food for civilian populations, disproportionately affecting those who are not directly involved in the political decisions of a government. Thus, the complexity of sanctions in international relations lies in their dual purpose: to apply pressure on governments while also creating potential hardships for civilians, reflecting the moral dilemmas faced by policymakers.

Other options, such as claiming that sanctions have no impact on political stability or can solely affect military capabilities, overlook the broader implications and applications of sanctions in the international arena. Furthermore, asserting that sanctions promote peace through direct intervention misconstrues their nature as non-military tools aimed at influencing states rather than direct action that promotes peace.