For decades, Iran has been grappling with an intricate constellation of sanctions, each one aggravating the country's social and economic conditions. This volume does not measure large-scale economic indicators or politically motivated analyses; rather, it seeks to demonstrate the profound and often painful impacts of these measures on the lives of ordinary Iranians. While integrating economic indicators with social science literature, journalism, and, when possible, personal accounts, the book meticulously documents the impact sanctions have on diverse aspects of life in Iran. These include the relentless economic burdens such as rampant inflation, chronic unemployment among the youth, and the acute shortage of essential goods and medicines, amongst others. The book exposes what is generally known as the "underbelly" of the issue: the transformation of these economic burdens into an everyday 'dare' for parents with respect to providing basic sustenance, medical care, and school attendance for their children. It also seeks to expand the focus to the far-reaching, largely overlooked, social consequences that accompany the economic sanctions. It examines the effects of curtailment of international trade and financial relations on the availability of important medical and other technologies vital to public health.
It concentrates on how the economic insecurities and uncertainties of an economy intensify the stress levels, anxiety, and social fragmentation resulting in divisive societal scissions. In addition, the book investigates the impact of sanctions on the cultural exchange and academic collaboration of Iran with the rest of the world, which cultivates a sense of isolation and constraint among the people. It explores the uneven burden of the sanctions in the narrative's framework. It analyzes how different social and economic strata along with regional minorities privilege endure the impact and deepen the dividers for the society at large.
The book aims to scrutinise the primary and secondary effects of sanctions-both intended and otherwise-and the inquiries of whether or not such sanctions achieve the purpose of inciting political change while highlighting the tremendous human cost of the sanctions. Also, "The Sanctions on Iran: The Economic and Social Impacts on Everyday Life" intricately describes the outer and inner mechanisms of Iran. It studies how the government policies and coping strategies in juxtaposition with the Iranian people's resilience and ingenuity determine their navigation of the challenges posed by sanctions. It notes the debates about what lies at the core of the sanctions and their global geopolitical influence. The argument, however, remains focused on the Iranian realities.
This book seeks to develop a complex and compassionate understanding of the humanitarian dimension of international sanctions. It also seeks to inform policymakers, scholars, and the public about the deep social and economic adaptive impacts of these measures on Iran's populace, while also chronicling their enduring socio-economic struggles. This is done by highlighting the struggle, adaptation, and endurance of the Iranian people, thereby enriching the debate on the morality and effectiveness of international sanctions as a tool of foreign policy.
