Welcome to The Sanctions Age
Twenty years ago, the U.S. Department of Treasury had imposed sanctions on fewer than 1,000 companies and individuals. Today, more than 10,000 entities have been targeted. No matter how much you might know about sanctions, the learning curve is only getting steeper.
Leaders around the world are imposing sanctions in response to wars, nuclear proliferation, terrorism, human rights violations, and technological competition. As a result, a growing list of countries are targeted by sanctions, export controls, and investment restrictions, including China, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, and Syria.
The Sanctions Age is a new podcast that invites the people who understand sanctions best—economists, historians, lawyers, policymakers, and journalists—to explain their use and significance.
Who is the host?
My name is Esfandyar Batmanghelidj. I’ve spent ten years researching sanctions and their effects. I’m the founder and CEO of the Bourse & Bazaar Foundation, a think tank focused on economic development and economic diplomacy in the Middle East and Central Asia. I’m a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on the Future of Growth for the term of 2023-2024. I was previously a visiting fellow with the Middle East and North Africa programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Before that, I spent a couple years writing a column for Bloomberg Opinion, focused on Middle East politics and economics.
Studying sanctions means working across disciplines. I’ve published peer-reviewed research in several fields, including economics, international relations, social history, and public health.
Most importantly, through my work on sanctions, I have met brilliant policymakers, business leaders, and scholars. The Sanctions Age is an opportunity to bring you into the conversations that have shaped my thinking on sanctions over the years.
Who should listen?
The Sanctions Age is a resource for anyone who needs to understand how sanctions are reshaping economics and politics today. Whether you’re a government official, investor, executive, attorney, economist, journalist, activist, or just someone who likes to be well-informed, this podcast and newsletter will help you think about risks and opportunities in a world shaped by sanctions. If you enjoy podcasts like Odd Lots, Planet Money, or 99% Invisible, we think you’ll like The Sanctions Age.
Why subscribe?
The Sanctions Age will be available to download for free wherever you get your podcasts.
But by becoming a paid subscriber here on Substack, you’ll get each new episode delivered straight to your inbox, along with a full transcript of the interview, and my analysis and reflections on each episode.
The Sanctions Age is produced by Spiritland Productions. The show’s first season was made possible by a grant from the Hollings Center for International Dialogue.
