The Megarian Decree of 432 B.C. is believed to the first relevant policy of economic sanctions levied against a regime. In this case, the Athenian Empire’s executed formula against Sparta’s ally, Megara, was more in line with an embargo, which broadens the penalties and effectively seeks to limit and undermine the targeted enemy’s commercial activity.

Since then, and up until today, economic sanctions and embargoes against rogue regimes have remained an awesome asset in democracy’s arsenal to help render justice and promote better governance, when applied comprehensively and with consistence.