SENSEI (Sanctions Effectiveness Network for Scholarship and Evaluation through Interdisciplinarity)

Type of project: HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN

The sanctions imposed on Russia and the debate that followed have reminded us how little we know about sanctions effectiveness and how wide the gap remains between theory, which often concludes that sanctions do not work, and practice, where sanctions are used more frequently than ever. SENSEI addresses this gap by building the first integrated European research and training network dedicated to understanding how sanctions function across their entire policy cycle. 
 
The objectives of SENSEI are to develop a coherent interdisciplinary framework for analysing sanctions, to create practical tools that support evidence based policymaking, and to train a new generation of specialists capable of evaluating sanctions from legal, political and economic perspectives. These objectives will be achieved through the coordinated training of 12 Doctoral Candidates who will work across universities and think tanks specialized in international affairs. Their work will contribute to two shared outputs: an EU Sanctions Toolkit for practitioners providing a structured approach to assessing sanctions design, implementation and impact, and a Sanctions Theory Handbook that consolidates conceptual insights into sanctions success and failure. Individual projects will address key stages of the sanctions cycle, supported by secondments, joint workshops and close engagement with practitioners. 
 
SENSEI is fully aligned with the aims of the Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions by offering high quality doctoral training, fostering 
interdisciplinary and intersectoral cooperation, and strengthening links between academia, civil society and policy institutions. It also 
responds to the EU’s strategic need for improved analytical capacity in a rapidly evolving policy domain. In addition, SENSEI will improve how private sector actors navigate the complexities of sanctions implementation, reducing compliance costs and enhancing overall effectiveness through better coordination with public authorities.