Abstract
In the post-Cold War era, western liberal governments gradually became more inclined to use the economic sanctions against opposing states, considering the experiences they gained from the costly wars of the Cold War period. This process affected the international order in different ways. Despite the various motivations that have been announced about sanctions, most of them have been established in order to protect the liberal international order. The positive effect of sanctions on international security and consequently the stability of the liberal order could not be denied. But at the same time, there have been consequences that indicate the complexity of the effects of sanctions. The question of the article is the effects of the expansion of Western economic sanctions in the post-Cold War era on the liberal international order. The primary answer is that the expansion of economic sanctions has had a dual impact on the liberal international order. They have helped to strengthen the liberal order, but at the same time, they create losses in the long run. This research has carried out with mixed methods research.
Keywords: Western world, post-Cold War period, globalization, economic sanctions, military operation, United States, international security, liberal international order.
 
Introduction
The liberal international order has traced back to the end of World War II. The United States and its Western allies have led the order in two phases: The Cold War era and the after. During the Cold War, the discourse of the liberal order was opposed to the discourse of communism. After the end of the Cold War and the consolidation of the position of the Western bloc led by the United States in the international arena, a major obstacle was removed from the way of the liberal order. However, the process of establishment and development of the liberal world order has been facing various problems. Despite the efforts of the United States and the close support of its allies, the liberal order has also faced opposing governments, each of which has been active against it in some way. In this period, the Western liberal states gradually became more inclined to use the weapon of economic sanctions against opposing states, considering the experiences have been gained from the costly wars of the Cold War period. This process affected the international order in different ways.
 
Question and Hypothesis
The main question of the current article is effects the expansion of Western economic sanctions in the post-Cold War period on the liberal international order. The initial hypothesis is that the impact of the expansion of economic sanctions on the liberal international order has been twofold. They have helped to strengthen the liberal order in the short term, but at the same time leave consequences that are detrimental in the long term. While the impact of wars is usually visible quickly, economic sanctions change the international political environment in a gradual process.
 
Materials & Methods
This article is based on a mixed methods research, combing quantitative and qualitative data to answer the question. In order to reach a valid answer, diverse sets of‌ available data is used.
 
Discussion & Result
Despite the various motivations have been announced about sanctions, most of them have been established in order to protect the liberal international order. The main positive effect of sanctions is international peace and security and consequently the development of the liberal order. The most important achievement expected by the sanctioning powers is to protect a central principle called international peace and security by putting economic pressure on the opposing forces. Most of the important international norms emphasized by the sanctioning powers - including respect for the national sovereignty of states, the fight against terrorism, and the prevention of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction - have been considered important mainly in that they are vital for the international peace and security. The most important achievement expected by the West in the increasing use of the weapon of economic sanctions can be summarized as helping the survival of the liberal international order. After the end of the Cold War, despite the challenges have existed against the liberal order, its stability has been maintained. Western powers, led by the United States, succeeded in punishing the opponents and those who took action against the international order. Of course, security threats still exist, but they are not immediate and determinant.
Sanctions have also left unwanted consequences. History experiences have shown that the strong expansion of sanctions may have consequences such as severe damage to the welfare of citizens, weakening of democracy and human rights, damage to the environment, expansion of immigration and asylum, and weakening of international cooperation, which are harmful to the liberal order. In practice, these destructive consequences have happened more or less. The unintended or previously uncalculated consequences of economic sanctions challenge the cost-benefit logic or the rationality of using sanctions weapons. The great powers' insistence on continued use of economic sanctions is usually justified by the argument that no better alternative is available.
 
Conclusion
Today, the global community needs to rationalize and humanize the weapon of economic sanctions responsibly – as done for wars. The international community should avoid hostage-taking behavior in the use of sanctions. In this framework, the sanctioning powers should focus on the wrongdoer and avoid punishing other actors, especially innocent people who live under the autocratic regimes. Multilateralism is a useful way to make sanctions effective and reduce its negative consequences. The main advantage of multilateral sanctions is that it enjoys international support and cooperation, and its implementation process is more effective.