Why states do not impose sanctions: regional norms and Indonesia’s diplomatic approach towards Myanmar on the Rohingya issue

Abstract

Existing literature on economic sanctions is abundantly clear regarding the motivation of countries to impose sanctions on other nations. Yet, there are few scholarly works on the motivation behind the improbability of economic sanctions in a specific country or region. In other words, the key question is not ‘why do states impose sanctions?’ but rather ‘why do not states impose sanctions is spite of their efficacy?’ This paper seeks to explain the absence of economic sanctions from ASEAN states in constraining the Myanmar government as a response to the Rohingya crisis. Despite the fact that economic sanctions have not previously been employed in Southeast Asia, the driving factors behind this case are puzzling. This paper selects the case of Indonesia’s soft diplomacy approach in dealing with the Rohingya crisis and assumes that in spite of its efficacy to punish norm-violating regimes, the ‘ASEAN Way’ has a crucial impact on the improbability of Indonesian implementing economic sanctions against Myanmar. This argument challenges the rationalist perspective that emphasizes strategic calculations behind sanctions policies.