US Sanctions Against Burma: Neither Rhyme Nor Reason

US sanctions may achieve the opposite to what is intended by weakening the ability of the Burmese president and his supporters to carry out the anticipated reforms.

The Obama Administration has declared that the renewal of US economic sanctions against Burma represents ‘insurance’ against the Thein Sein government backsliding on its reform program. Congressional supporters of this policy claim that such pressures actually prompted the reforms and are needed to keep Naypyidaw on the right track.

Read the whole article from Future Directions International.