Sanctions often lead to economic hardship for the people living within a country. Such conditions are especially fertile ground for fostering resentment toward the West. They reinforce the narrative promoted by those who claim the West is untrustworthy and cruel. Hardliners frequently accuse others of having a shallow understanding of Western politics. As the painful effects of crippling sanctions are felt in daily life, more people are likely to adopt their views.

A common counterargument is that “those who detest the West will continue to do so anyway.” But this misses the point. The issue is not about the original critics of the West themselves, but about the new waves of people who may be drawn to their ideology.