Diplomacy often feels like a game of patience, but I wonder if economic sanctions actually push countries to change their behavior or just harden their stance against outsiders. Look at Iran or North Korea—decades of sanctions haven't toppled their regimes, and ordinary citizens bear the brunt of shortages while leaders stay entrenched. I've read studies suggesting sanctions work about a third of the time, yet we keep relying on them as the default tool. Maybe engagement offers more leverage than isolation, even if it's politically unpopular at home.