Adding their voices to the current debate about sanctions against the Burmese government, Alison Vicary and Sean Turnell have used an opinion piece in The Age to argue that “[l]ifting economic sanctions now would not only embolden Burma’s present reform-shy regime, but also greatly deleverage the ability of the US, Australia and like-minded countries to influence future events”.

In sum, this is one of the better, and pithier, defences of sanctions policy that you are likely to read. Comments from New Mandala readers are very welcome here.