Capital Blockade

Ever heard the talking heads on news say "economic sanctions?" If so, this is what they mean. If not, this is still what they mean.

More than a slap on the wrist, but short of declaring a war, countries use capital blockades to penalize other countries who are being naughty (like, say, invading Crimea...or detonating nukes...or sponsoring terrorism...you know, naughty). By freezing assets, forbidding investment, or otherwise limiting/restricting capital from flowing into offending nations' economies, the hope is that the target of the capital blockade will act right in order to avoid fiscal pain.