In the new project 'Sanctioned Lives,' Grégoire Mallard, Ariane Lüthi, and Thomas Isler examine the consequences of international sanctions on the everyday lives of civilians. While sanctions are often promoted as an alternative to military intervention and a tool for influencing authoritarian regimes, their rapid expansion in recent years has increasingly affected entire economies and societies.

Building on previous research at the Geneva Graduate Institute, the project investigates how sanctions, together with anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism regulations, have contributed to banking exclusion, disrupted trade and remittances, and complicated humanitarian assistance. A particular focus is placed on the long-term effects of sanctions and the challenges and opportunities created by emerging digital payment systems.

To bring these findings beyond academia, the project will produce the documentary film Sanctioned Lives. By highlighting the lived experiences of people in heavily sanctioned countries, the film aims to foster a broader public debate on the humanitarian, economic, and political costs of contemporary sanctions regimes.

Timeline: May 2026 – April 2028

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