Economics Sanctions defeat aggression

In otl Japan responded the sanctions applied by the US in 1941 with Pearl Harbor.

WI serious sanctions had been applied against Japan after Manchuria and if sanctions against following the invasion of Abyssinia had been applied properly.

I know that it is hard to see how there could be a concensus to carry out such a policy. However if it had worked ....
 
It would have meant earlier resentment with the West, general ultranationalistic feelings running high and the Pacific War starting earlier as consequence. In 1941, the Japanese populace were already sick and tired of the China War though they felt they had no authority to stop it. But once the final oil embargo were slapped, they really took it personally.

Even if the Japanese had withdrawn, the resentment from the humilation is already implanted there in national psyche. Its a metaphorical timebomb waiting to explode with the right geopolitical conditions.
 
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