Saturday, February 14, 2026 | 7 – 10:00 p.m.
Salesianum, St. Wolfgangsplatz 11, Munich
Time to talk: sanctions and boycotts as a tool for politics and civil society
A critical discussion on non-violent forms of pressure and resistance in times of war
What means do governments and societies have to stop injustice, human rights violations and breaches of international law? Those who do not want to use force themselves usually resort to sanctions and boycotts in order to put pressure on the respective actor – whether governmental or non-governmental – and persuade them to change their behavior. Development funds are then cut, arms deliveries stopped, imports and exports restricted, diplomats expelled, entry bans imposed and assets frozen. Only rarely is a comprehensive trade embargo imposed today, as was the case with Iraq under Saddam Hussein, as it is the local people who suffer the most. Instead, the exclusion of a country from the SWIFT banking communication system is now considered a particularly drastic step.
How effective these measures are is a matter of debate among scientists. In principle, they work better against democracies than against dictatorships. This is because, while the population of a democratic state can hold their government responsible for the economic consequences of sanctions and vote them out of office, autocrats portray them as an attack on the entire population and thus bring about a social cohesion that stabilizes their own rule.
Reference is often made to the case of South Africa, where an international trade embargo contributed to the fall of the apartheid regime. Can this example be applied to other states – such as Israel and Palestine? And why do the regimes in Russia, North Korea and Iran continue to exist despite years of comprehensive sanctions? What role do internal power and majority relations play? And are there general lessons that make sanctions and boycotts successful tools in the fight against occupation and foreign domination?
The panel will discuss the opportunities and risks of various measures and their application against states that violate international humanitarian law. Why do attacks that violate international law only lead to sanctions in the case of Russia, but not in the case of the USA and Israel? The central question is how state-imposed sanctions and socially organized boycotts should be designed to stop crimes without causing humanitarian suffering. Should only individuals, certain economic sectors or state institutions and their representatives be isolated? Sanctions against ministers and generals are obvious, but how sensible are calls for boycotts against cultural workers, athletes and universities?
04.12.2026, Kristin Helberg
“Time to talk” brings together academics, intellectuals and experts from different backgrounds for in-depth discussions on aspects that are difficult to discuss in the German public sphere. Their knowledge and professional expertise are intended to objectify and broaden the debate as a whole. Entrenched patterns of argumentation are broken down, certainties are questioned and other views are recognized.
“Time to Talk” attaches great importance to presenting different perspectives on these complex issues and creating a safe space for discussion for the participants and the audience. Instead of solidifying thinking in political camps and thereby deepening rifts, “Time to Talk” focuses on a position based on human rights and international law that strives for equality and equal treatment for all people.
Further information: Time to talk
