REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationNEW YORK, Sept 27 (Reuters Breakingviews) - American presidents often use economic sanctions as a geopolitical lever against countries with whom they are in conflict but have stopped short of a shooting war. Yet while sanctions can inflict severe economic pain, history suggests they lack a decisive political punch. The sanctions against Russia were swift and closely coordinated. Meanwhile, authorities slapped targeted sanctions on hundreds of Russian individuals, defense and transport firms, financial institutions, tech groups and energy companies. Economic restrictions sped up the country’s transition from apartheid to majority rule by the African National Congress.

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