> Except that they're proven to not work

It depends on what the goal posts are for what "work" means. I think sanctions work when their cost offsets some of the benefit received through the "undesired behavior" of the target country. They also "work" when the threat of sanctions causes countries to avoid behaviors that would cause them to become sanctioned.

If the goal posts are that sanctions must destroy a country's warfighting capabilities in order to "work", then yes, they almost never work.