More likely against democratic targets; less likely against autocracies.
: For sanctions to work, they must create enough political pressure on the leader's "winning coalition"—the essential group of supporters needed to stay in power. 2007. An Institutional Theory of Sanctions Onse...
: Senders are more likely to initiate sanctions against states where they believe the political institutions will make the sanctions effective. More likely against democratic targets; less likely against
Beyond success rates, the paper explores why certain states are targeted in the first place: More likely against democratic targets
: Nondemocratic leaders have smaller coalitions and can use the rents (extra resources) created by economic restrictions to buy off their core supporters, often making them more secure rather than less. Onset and Initiation