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Capitalizing on the newly released dataset on United Nations sanctions and armed conflicts, this article raises the question whether targeted sanctions have an impact on the dynamics of armed conflicts, and, if they do, in what way. To answer this question the authors correlate UN sanctions policies to measures related to armed conflict in the period 1991-2013. This is done by systematizing and analysing data produced by the UN Targeted Sanctions Consortium (TSC) and the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP). It is a first attempt to deal with questions such as the relationship between UN targeted sanctions and armed conflict type, conflict termination and conflict outcome (victory, peace agreements, etc.). The article demonstrates that there are several instances where the UN has decided not to impose targeted sanctions, although the conditions were similar to those cases that saw such action. There is a tendency to use targeted sanctions only in certain types of conflicts. The authors suggest that this is partly rooted in the structure of the UN as an inter-state organization. Thus, sanctions are more of a political instrument than has perhaps been recognized in sanctions research to date. (International Affairs (Oxford) / SWP)

In 2002, there were 21 major armed conflicts in 19 locations throughout the world. The number of major armed conflicts & the number of conflict locations in 2002 were lower than in 2001, when there were 24 major armed conflicts in 22 locations. The conflict between India & Pakistan continued to be the only active interstate conflict. The vast majority of the conflicts in 2002 occurred in Africa & in Asia. In the 13-year post-Cold War period, there were 58 different major armed conflicts in 46 different locations. The number of major armed conflicts in 2002 was the lowest since 1998. 3 Tables, 1 Figure, 1 Appendix. Adapted from the source document.