Objectives:
Understand the concept of sanctions and their purpose in international relations
Evaluate the effectiveness of sanctions in achieving political or economic objectives
Analyze the benefits and drawbacks of imposing sanctions
Apply the knowledge gained to real-life examples of sanctions, including the case of King’s Landing in Game of Thrones
Materials:
Handout on sanctions and their impact
Worksheet with questions for discussion
Video clip from Game of Thrones (Season 7, Episode 4). Link here.
Procedures:
Introduction (5 minutes)
- Begin by asking students if they have heard of sanctions before and if they know what they mean.
Instruction (30 minutes)
- Define sanctions as measures taken by countries or international organizations to restrict trade, finance, or other economic activities in order to achieve a political or economic objective.
- Discuss the different types of sanctions, including trade sanctions, financial sanctions, and travel bans.
- Show the clip from Game of Thrones where Tyrion discusses the blockade with Daenerys.
- Ask students to pay attention to what Tyrion is saying and why he thinks the blockade is necessary.
- After the clip, ask students if they think Tyrion’s recommendation is a good strategy and why.
Application (20 minutes)
- Divide students into small groups and give them a handout on sanctions and their impact.
- Ask each group to read the handout and then discuss the following questions:
- What are the main reasons why countries impose sanctions?
- What are the different types of sanctions and how do they work?
- What are the possible benefits of imposing sanctions?
- What are the possible drawbacks of imposing sanctions?
- Can sanctions be an effective tool for achieving political or economic objectives?
- Distribute a worksheet with questions related to the video clip and the discussion.
- Ask students to work in pairs or individually to answer the questions.
- After they have finished, discuss the answers as a class and address any questions or concerns.
Conclusion (10 minutes)
- Summarize the key points covered in the lesson, including the purpose of sanctions, the benefits and drawbacks of imposing sanctions, and the effectiveness of sanctions in achieving political or economic objectives.