Nineteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

How and under what conditions do international sanctions impact global migration flows? How and to what extent does the type of sanctions matter? This paper critically examines the nuanced impact of various international sanctions on transnational migration, accounting for complex interdependencies in global networks. Specifically, it posits that economic sanctions significantly dampen outward migration from the sanctioning to the sanctioned state, whereas the impact of military sanctions on migration is subtler and less clear. Generally, outward migration occurs when better employment opportunities and improved living standards are perceived in the targeted country. Thus, a country that is being sanctioned economically will be deemed to be less attractive and riskier for migrants, especially from the sanctioning state. However, concerns regarding military sanctions are generally unfounded given that their spillover effects on the public are less obvious. Utilizing novel datasets, this paper conceptualizes and models global migration as networks of complex interdependencies, and reveals how international sanctions not only serve as tools of geopolitical strategy, but also as powerful deterrents to international labor flows. By integrating insights from political economy, sociology, and network theory, this research offers a nuanced understanding of the geopolitical complexities shaping global migration. Moreover, this research emphasizes that international sanctions transcend coercive diplomacy to significantly alter the global migration landscape. Overall, this interdisciplinary research enriches the discourse on the social ramifications of international sanctions, providing a novel and foundational framework for both scholars and policymakers to navigate the complex and interconnected realms of international relations and migration phenomena.