The Enigmatic Continuance of the Sanctions Against Hamas.

This paper analyzes the economic coercion methods employed against the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, in the aftermath of its January 2006 election to the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). Beginning with a brief analysis of the events surrounding the imposition of sanctions and a discussion of economic coercion theory and methods, the paper will analyze the scenario by comparing the theoretical framework with the actions of the actors involved in an attempt to deduce the reasons for the imposition of sanctions in light of Hamas' relative acquiescence at the threat stage. The hypotheses presented are as follows: (1) The degree of acquiescence taken by Hamas was not sufficient to convince the sending states of the need to cease the threat of sanctions; (2) Once Hamas had acquiesced to the original terms, the senders determined that pursuit of a strategy to dismantle, disarm, or otherwise destroy Hamas should also form a part of their policy goals; (3) The imposition of sanctions was intended not in pursuit of any further specific political goals but, rather, as purely a form of punishment. While there is evidence to support all three hypotheses, due to more recent information it seems that the third hypothesis, sadly, may have been the reason for the imposition of sanctions. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]