Charmaine N. Willis, a native of Killington and political science scholar, recently published “Trading with Pariahs: Trade Networks and the Failure of Economic Sanctions.” This new book, co-authored with Keith A. Preble, examines the effectiveness of economic sanctions, particularly its impact on countries considered international “pariah states” due to their violations of international norms.
In “Trading with Pariahs,” Willis and Preble utilize social network analysis to explore how sanctions alter trade networks of targeted states like North Korea and Iran. The book sheds light on how some states manage to maintain or even enhance trade relationships despite sanctions while others experience significant disruptions. Drawing on data from the UN Comtrade system, the authors show that while sanctions can drastically change trading patterns for some countries, others, such as Myanmar, see little impact due to their reliance on key trading partners who refuse to impose sanctions.
The book unravels the theory of “weaponized interdependence,” which posits that the success of sanctions depends heavily on who imposes them. Sanctions by the “right” sender states—those that hold leverage in global trade networks—are more likely to achieve their goals. However, as Willis and Preble argue, isolationist strategies alone are insufficient, and a broader strategy to effectively change the behavior of pariah states must support these sanctions.
Willis, who earned her PhD in Political Science from the University at (SUNY) Albany, has long had an interest in international relations and economic policy. Her research focuses on understanding the real-world effects of sanctions and other international economic tools, with a particular emphasis on their geopolitical implications. In her book, she explores why sanctions on North Korea have largely failed to change its behavior, attributing this failure to North Korea’s ability to shift its trade to countries willing to bypass international sanctions.
Raised in Killington, Willis has since lived in Maine, Washington, DC, and New York. She is an avid traveler, having visited numerous countries across Europe, Asia, and North America for work and leisure. When not working on her research, she enjoys knitting, watching “Star Trek, “and spending time with her husband, Scott, and their two dogs, Jelly Bean and Norah.
Willis’s book, “Trading with Pariahs,” is now available on Amazon. It is a critical contribution to understanding international economic sanctions and how global trade networks influence their success or failure. For local readers, it’s also an opportunity to celebrate a Killington native’s remarkable academic achievement.
