The Hoover Institution hosted Insights from the International Working Group on Russian Sanctions on Monday, December 12th, 2022 from 12:00 - 1:00pm PT. Watch the discussion with Mike McFaul, Director at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University, about the latest insights from his International Working Group on Russian Sanctions. This working group convenes independent, international experts to assist with the formulation of sanctions proposals that will increase the cost to Russia of invading Ukraine, and support democratic Ukraine in the defense of its territorial integrity and national sovereignty.
In their ninth working group paper, the International Working Group on Russian Sanctions notes that the impact of sanctions can take time to materialize. And their impact can be reduced if Russia finds ways to get around sanctions. Not only could this prolong conflict in Ukraine, but also it could extend adverse impacts on law-abiding companies, countries, and the global economy. To counter Russia’s attempts to circumvent sanctions, the working group paper makes three recommendations: 1) improve enforcement and eliminate loopholes; 2) establish a better system to collect and share information that supports enforcement among allies; and 3) if Russia continues to use force, transition from piecemeal sanctions to a more strategic approach regulating economic relations with Russia.
Measuring the practical utility of sanctions against Russia will be essential to understanding the strongest offensive and defensive economic tools that can reinforce international security, stability, and liberal democratic values.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Michael McFaul is Director at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, the Ken Olivier and Angela Nomellini Professor of International Studies in the Department of Political Science, and the Peter and Helen Bing Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution. He joined the Stanford faculty in 1995.
Dr. McFaul also is an International Affairs Analyst for NBC News and a columnist for The Washington Post. He served for five years in the Obama administration, first as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council at the White House (2009-2012), and then as U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation (2012-2014).
He has authored several books, most recently the New York Times bestseller From Cold War to Hot Peace: An American Ambassador in Putin’s Russia. Earlier books include Advancing Democracy Abroad: Why We Should, How We Can; Transitions To Democracy: A Comparative Perspective (eds. with Kathryn Stoner); Power and Purpose: American Policy toward Russia after the Cold War (with James Goldgeier); and Russia’s Unfinished Revolution: Political Change from Gorbachev to Putin.
His current research interests include American foreign policy, great power relations, and the relationship between democracy and development. Dr. McFaul was born and raised in Montana. He received his B.A. in International Relations and Slavic Languages and his M.A. in Soviet and East European Studies from Stanford University in 1986. As a Rhodes Scholar, he completed his D. Phil. in International Relations at Oxford University in 1991. He is currently writing a book on great power relations in the 21st century.
