An international expert on the effectiveness of sanctions says on a global scale Fiji's case scores very poorly.
Gary Hufbauer of the Washington-based Peterson Institute for International Economics says on a scale of one to 16, the sanctions brought by countries like New Zealand and Australia on Fiji have only achieved a score of about four.
He says Fiji would have had to see much heavier sanctions like stopping tourists to the country for them to have had an effect like a regime change or early free and fair elections.
Dr Hufbauer says the score remains low even though the leader of the regime, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has promised elections for later this year.
Even if he allows his opponents to run, there is that question of whether the polling booths will be open long enough, votes will be accurately counted and so forth, so I will hold on to my scepticism till we get much closer. Maybe knock it up to four, but our cut off for success is nine and this is way below.
Gary Hufbauer of the Washington-based Peterson Institute for International Economics.
