America's Destructive Interventions - Research Paper Example

?Are Latin Americans growing more anti-American? Explain your answer in detail. C.Q.Resercher, July 21, 2006?, Vol.16.issue 26. In political science studies, it is not often that one reads of American Imperialism. The term imperialism is almost exclusively associated with colonial exploits of major European powers such as Britain, France and Germany in the West; and China and Japan in the East. Although a late joiner of the imperial club, the United States is by far the most dominant in this group. With the entity called the United States of America having emerged only toward the end of the eighteenth century, it was only in the subsequent centuries it could meaningfully expressed its imperial goals. And since Latin America is its closest neighbor, it was natural for the United States to take active interest in developments in the region. Often disparagingly referred to as US' backyard, it was in Latin America that US' imperialist goals were first implemented. (Field, 1978, p.659) And the continuation of these goals has led to genuine grievances among Latin American intellectuals and masses alike. It then comes as no surprise that anti-American sentiment in this part of the world is steadily increasing. The rest of this essay will present further evidence in support of this claim. Looking at the history of American politics, the perception of the United States as an imperialist state was first mooted in the early part of the nineteenth century and the outbreak of the Spanish-American war in 1898 confirmed this fact. Indeed, the final years of the 19th century saw the peaking of American imperialist aggression as it occupied Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippine Islands – the latter two eventually becoming American colonies. (Lens & Zinn, 2003) Unfortunately, though, not much has changed since the time of these conquests, creating a sense of resentment and despair among Latin Americans. One of the objections of Latin Americans is America's tendency to interfere in local politics purely to upkeep its strategic interests. Unfair trade agreements, detainment of illegal immigrants, toppling democratic governments by supporting military coups (in fact, the Central Intelligence Agency has gained a tarnished reputation for designing and executing many such coups). All of these factors have established political institutions in many countries in Latin America. In several others, American involvement has sapped the economy to the brink of collapse. But when looks at the views of founding fathers of the United States, they have unequivocally stated such strategic and economic goals, albeit covered in polished language. For example, the early indicators of imperialist tendency can be found in the founding documents of the country. Even luminaries such as Thomas Jefferson have articulated an imperialist vision for the United States in no unclear terms. The annexation of Louisiana in the eighteenth century is seen as the first act of this vision. During the nineteenth century, the U.S.' foreign policy was largely confined to the American continent, with Central and Southern American regions being focal points. (Sawyer, 2004, p.115) As is typical of imperialist propaganda, convoluted justifications were given for aggressive foreign policy. It was stated that lands of 'semi-civilized' and 'primitive' peoples were occupied in order to bring Western civilization (which is supposedly superior) to these lands. Empire expansion was also projected as benign and compassionate, for Christian missionary work was invariably associated with it. Propaganda also had it that the standards of living of subjects of the empire will eventually rise. On the whole, imperialist enterprise was promoted using these vapid and empty slogans and motives. (Lens & Zinn, 2003) But sooner, the affected masses came to see these projected noble goals for what they are. And the stirring currents of dissent in Latin America today are one of its manifestations. America's destructive interventions in other parts of the world has also disillusioned many people. Under the operative politico-economic framework adopted by the United States, many pressing human concerns are being neglected. For example, global warming and the threat of nuclear warfare are two such concerns, with both having the potential to annihilate the entire species – rich and poor alike. The continuation of American hegemony over the rest of the world (including Latin America) will only increase the chances of such catastrophes occuring. Erosion of national sovereignty, concentration of power in the hands of a few large Multi-National Corporations (MNCs), declining political stability in many regions, hurdles for democracy promotion are all symptoms of flawed American foreign policies. It is clearly in reaction to the excesses of American and capitalistic hegemony that grassroots mass movements are starting to emerge in different parts of the Third World, especially Latin America. (Pozo, 2007, p.55) The sweeping democratic transformations in Latin America is a reaction to America's haughty attitude toward the region: “The Latin American turn to the left is well documented. The supposed "pink tide" saw the Brazilian Workers' Party leader, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, succeed Fernando Henrique Cardoso and his market-oriented reforms. Similarly, the policies of Argentina's neoliberal architect, Carlos Menem, have given way to the unilateral repudiation of Argentine external debt, in defiance of international financial institutions. Mass protests in Bolivia toppled President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada's government in 2003 and eventually led to a landslide victory for the antineoliberal Evo Morales in 2006 (Potter 2007). In his 2006 address to the UN General Assembly, moreover, the president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, delivered one of the most overtly hostile attacks against a U.S. president, likening George W. Bush to the Devil. Add to this the electoral success of Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua, Michelle Bachelet in Chile, Tabare Vazquez in Uniguay, Rafael Correa in Ecuador, Fernando Lugo in Paraguay, and Mauricio Funes in El Salvador, and the perceived tilt to the left during the Bush presidency was manifest. Such movement led Sheila Collins to note that America's "backyard" could no longer be considered safe to play in.” (Emerson, 2010, p.53) The global solidarity movement, disparagingly projected as the 'anti-globalization' movement is another case in point. Centered on universal human challenges like poverty-reduction, access to basic healthcare, free education for all children, social welfare for the disadvantaged, etc, the global solidarity movement presents an alternative operative framework to the United States led global capitalist project. In a few decades time, it is plausible that this more pragmatic form of social organization might have quelled American hegemony in economic, cultural and political domains and might have eliminated the need for economic globalization. (Zakaria, 1999, p.9) The brewing discontent with the excesses of capitalism have spawned a new ideological alternative - consistent with the Hegelian notion of the dialectic. This promising counter-current has Marxist underpinnings to it, but it would be simplistic to term it as a throwback to the failed experiment with communism or socialism. While retaining the essence of socialism, Third-World solidarity movement attempts to cater to humankind's basic necessities in an atmosphere of co-operation and collaboration as opposed to exploitation. (Zakaria, 1999, p.9) The leaders of this movement (many of whom are from Latin America) argue that it is not necessary to just have an alternative ideology to eradicate current injustices. Instead, people across the world need to show great resolution to challenge capitalist power structures and concomitant ideologies. What is also needed are a community of like-minded people who are willing to work conscientiously and in the spirit of social solidarity to usher in the changes. The keywords in this project are organization, mobilization, compassion and solidarity – concepts that are antagonistic to the notion of hegemony (American or otherwise). (Tyvela, 2004, p.156) It is encouraging to see that parallel grassroots movements are rising in different countries simultaneously. For example, we are witnessing grossroots organizations in India, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Chile, South East Asia, Bangladesh, etc. The recent uprisings in the Arab world, where autocratic regimes that supported and promoted American hegemony were shaken (and in the case of Egypt, overthrown from power). It is also hearty to see that anti-American sentiment is being constructively channeled in these countries. Bibliography: Pozo, Luis M. "The Roots of Hegemony: the Mechanisms of Class Accommodation and the Emergence of the Nation-people." Capital & Class (2007): 55+. Thomas, Neil. "Global Capitalism, the Anti-globalisation Movement and the Third World." Capital & Class (2007): 45+. Tyvela, Kirk. "Cyrus Veeser, A World Safe for Capitalism: Dollar Diplomacy and America's Rise to Global Power." American Studies International 42.1 (2004): 155+. Worth, Owen, and Carmen Kuhling. "Counter-hegemony, Anti-globalisation and Culture in International Political Economy." Capital & Class (2004): 31+. Zakaria, Fareed. "The Challenges of American Hegemony, Then and Now." International Journal 54.1 (1999): 9+. Jennifer Cummings or Eric Thomas, Business Community Calls for New Cuba Policy, 12/4/2008, The Fratelli Group for NFTC, 202-822-9491 Embargo on Cuba, Letters to the Editor, The New York Times, January 19, 2003 Sunday "Platform of the American Anti-Imperialist League," in Speeches, Correspondence, and Political Papers of Carl Schurz, vol. 6, ed. Frederick Bancroft (New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1913), p. 77, note 1., retrieved from Field, James A., Jr. (June 1978). "American Imperialism: The Worst Chapter in Almost Any Book". The American Historical Review 83 (3): 659. Lens, Sidney; Zinn, Howard (2003). The Forging of the American Empire: From the Revolution to Vietnam: A History of American Imperialism. Plkuto press. ISBN 0745321003. Barczak, Monica. "Representation by Consultation? the Rise of Direct Democracy in Latin America." Latin American Politics and Society 43.3 (2001): 37+. Colomer, Josep M. "Taming the Tiger: Voting Rights and Political Instability in Latin America." Latin American Politics and Society 46.2 (2004): 29+. Emerson, R. Guy. "Radical Neglect? the "war on Terror" and Latin America." Latin American Politics and Society 52.1 (2010): 33+. Schulz, Donald E. The United States and Latin America: Shaping an Elusive Future. Carlisle Barracks, PA: Strategic Studies Institute, 2000. Webber, Jeffery R. "Indigenous Struggle in Latin America: the Perilous Invisibility of Capital and Class." Latin American Politics and Society 49.3 (2007): 191+. Postero, Nancy Grey, and Leon Zamosc, eds. The Struggle for Indigenous Rights in Latin America. Brighton: Sussex Academic Press, 2004. Figures, tables, notes, bibliography, index, 272 pp. Sawyer, Suzana. Crude Chronicles: Indigenous Politics, Multinational Oil, and Neoliberalism in Ecuador. Durham: Duke University Press, 2004. Photos, maps, figures, notes, bibliography, index, 312 pp. Read More