Economic sanctions have been an increasingly conspicuous feature of world politics since the end of World War I, owing largely to the decreasing legitimacy of the use of force and the world's growing economic interdependence. However, there still exists scepticism regarding their efficacy. What are economic sanctions? What means are available? In what circumstances can economic sanctions be effective? In which cases have economic sanctions actually been effective? When were they not effective? Even where they may he thought to have had considerable effect, did the state, organization or grouping imposing them really attain its objectives? If it did, was it because of the economic sanctions? Why, if economic sanctions can rarely attain their objectives, have states, etc., resorted to them so frequently? Do economic sanctions perhaps have some hidden merits? The study is a pioneering effort and investigates the role of economic sanctions in the international community today, their efficacy and their limitations.