Course features

Sanctions are among the most frequently used tools in diplomacy and foreign policy. For many states, they represent a key strategy of statecraft — shaping international behaviour without the use of force.

In this self-paced course, you will explore how sanctions function in the international system. Led by Professor Matthew Moran, a specialist in international security, the course blends theory with real-world case studies, examining:

• The purpose and varieties of sanctions used to exert coercive influence
• How sanctions operate within broader strategies of deterrence and compellence
• The shift from comprehensive to targeted sanctions and its significance
• The role of multilateral and unilateral actors in sanctions regimes
• How states and non-state actors resist, evade, or adapt to sanctions

Through applied learning and critical analysis, you’ll gain a clear understanding of how sanctions are designed, implemented, and contested in today’s global security environment.

Course format

This course is delivered through the edX learning platform and is designed to be completed in approximately 5 hours.

This course is also available as part of the Professional Certificate in Grand Strategy.

What you'll learn

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Define the concept and types of sanctions in international relations
• Explain the purpose of sanctions and trace their historical development
• Evaluate how sanctions function as tools of coercion within statecraft
• Analyse how major actors design and implement sanctions regimes
• Differentiate between multilateral and unilateral sanctions strategies
• Investigate how sanctions are challenged, resisted, and evaded by target actors
• Engage critically with debates around the effectiveness and ethics of sanctions

Entry Requirements

Further information

King’s College London has partnered with the online education platform edX to deliver self-paced short courses to learners worldwide. Anyone can audit the course materials for free, excluding graded assessments, for a limited time.

For full access to the course, including graded assessments, and to obtain a verified certificate upon successful completion, the USD fee is $249.

The GBP course fee displayed on this page is for illustrative purposes only and subject to change in line with current exchange rates.

Payment for verified access to the course is made directly via edX. Please see edX Terms of Service for further information.