StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Causes of Political Instability in Latin America - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The essay "Causes of Political Instability in Latin America" focuses on the critical, and thorough analysis of the major issues in the role of the United States behind the causes of the political instability of Latin America in the nineteenth century…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER95% of users find it useful
Causes of Political Instability in Latin America
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Causes of Political Instability in Latin America"

?An Analysis of the Role of United s behind the Causes of Political Instability of Latin America of the Nineteenth Century and social awakening of Latin Americans Background & Introduction Latin America became the center of political instability in the nineteenth century because of the European powers’ strides to maintain their stronghold through the colonial rule. It is rightly argued that an honest American quest to oust the European colonial powers for the better political future of the Latin people was made, but unfortunately it later turned out into the strengthening of its own strategic interests in the region. Monroe Doctrine was a proof of new American imperialism, which attempted to secure American interests in the Western Hemisphere, as is evident from the speech of President James Monroe, delivered on the occasion of seventh annual meet of the Congress on December 2, 1823. It was made clear to the Western nations that America wanted no outside interference in the political matters of the countries of Western Hemisphere. Actually, the Monroe Doctrine was an indication of American desire to increase its political hold on the Latin countries, being ruled by proxy of the European powers. The purpose of the Doctrine was initially concurrent; it aimed to thwart away the European powers from the region, which later became part of its policy to bring the Latin countries under American impression, irrespective of the feelings of the people of Latin American countries. Things turned for the worse for American interests when the Monroe Doctrine was invoked in 1865 because of military support provided by America to the Mexican President Benito Juarez for organizing a successful revolt against the Emperor Maximilian (The Monroe Doctrine 1-2). US Policy Failure It is also contended that the Pan-American movement of the US in the 1880s and 1890s was initiated to secure the commercial stakes of the US. The leader of the movement, James G Blaine, thought that such a movement could help in reducing the European social and political impact and promote undisputed resolution of inter-linked issues of the US with Latin countries. The American attempt to enter into a treaty with eleven Latin countries for the resolution of issues could not succeed as no Latin country ratified the agreement later. Argentina was giving competition to the US to lead the region in the matter of creating economic and political impressions in South America; it boycotted the opening session of the Pan American conference (Hall and Coerver 21). The US wars in the Caribbean region were fought with the aim of expanding the US impression strategically against Cuba and Puerto Rico. The two ocean issues focused on the significance of an Isthimian canal, increasing US stakes in Central America. The US came to recognize the critical role of the navy, an issue of top concern for the upcoming President Theodore Roosevelt. The expansionary intentions of the US in the Caribbean region created worries even in far-flung countries, as Chile and Argentina, over the US war initiative to get political and economic leverage in the hemisphere. There can be no doubt that the US took only first step in the right direction of freeing a colony, but only to become an expansionary power later. Monroe Doctrine is a proof of American defensive policy turning offensive. The American war paved the path for its becoming a global power, which was incidentally its first phase of aggressiveness through interventionist policy in the aligned area of its stakes (Hall and Coerver 21). Latin American revolutionaries were under the wrong impression that the US would help their freedom movement but to their dismay, the US approach was cautionary. The government preferred to remain neutral. The US had doubts that any ousting of the European powers from the Hemisphere would lead to democratization of institutions. A policy shift in the US approach was seen only when Monroe became its president, but the US waging a war on Mexico was a planned attack of a powerful nation on its militarily weak neighboring country, which is a genuine proof of the expansionary policy of the US to win a piece of land through bullish might to practice slave labor (Hall and Coerver 22). Latin American liberalism was a live project for the cause of constitutional and democratic rule. This initiative thwarted the colonial right of absolutist and corporatism rule but opposition emerged between liberalism and political truths. Certain political realities were responsible for not letting liberal elements function forcefully in Latin America. A way out was found to bring political certainty by establishing constitutional model of centralization (Negretto and Aguilar-Rivera 396). Experiences of Mexico and Argentina It is believed that the United States was behind the change for better in the political spheres of Latin America, but the two examples of Mexico and Argentina, the two Latin American countries, reveal how both countries learned through their own experiences. To begin with the examples of Mexico, the liberation movement opted out for a model of parliamentary sovereignty but a timid executive and flexible federal mechanism. On the contrary, the example of Argentina showed more reliance on strong presidential form of governance along with centralized federation, which was followed late by Mexico after the emergence of incessant problems between central powers, local authority and national leadership. In Mexico and Argentina, electoral outcomes were manipulated to satisfy informal arrangements. Both the countries could not attain political stability due to making compromises to resolve conflicts. Later, political stability arrived in the 1880s through centralization of power and holding of elections. Relatively, Argentina better managed its system of inclusive and competitive elections under PAN than Mexico under the leadership of Diaz (Negretto and Aguilar-Rivera 396). It would be wrong to contend that United States was not the sole initiator for strengthening the roots of modernity through enforcement of democratic institutions in Latin America. The wave of modernism that started way back in the 17th century, took all leading regions of the world in its compass, although credit is bestowed on America. Yes, America played a lead role when it came to the point of modernity; the wave of modernism encompassed not only America, but Europe and colonial Latin America as well. Thus, the movement for Enlightenment encircled the whole universe through such Societies, as the Societies of the Friends of the Country, with the ditto questions for research and the same topics of analysis. This spirit of exploring nature led everywhere to work for the reformation of society and its institutions, which cleared the way for political freedom, which was one among other positive attributes of that time (Quijano 150-151). It needs to be argued that credit not be given unnecessarily to the American awakening on modernism, as Europeans were actually the first recipients of the intellectual insights made worldwide, which was proved from the visit of Humboldt. To his astonishment, wherever he went in the centers of knowledge and learning of the Americans, the questions that were raised in American circles on modernity were ditto, as raised in Europe. It was not due to the sole reason that content read all across the world was same but the intensity of desire to find answers to the questions was also equally matching. Interestingly, a number of Latin American intellectuals and politicians were active participants in the debates on Enlightenment. For example, it was not just incidental that the Peruvian Pablo de Olavide was a celebrity of the Enlightenment groups in Europe; he was a friend of Voltaire, and took active part in French and Spanish political discussions on Enlightenment. It can be argued that Latin Americans were the torch-bearers of the Enlightenment movement in the Cadiz Parliament in 1810; the Latin American deputies were among the most comprehensive followers of the spirit of modernity, the most forward defenders of revolutionary liberalism. Therefore, it can be argued that they played a brilliant part in the conceptualizing of the liberal constitution in a commission headed by one of their own intellectuals, the Peruvian Morales Durez, who was later promoted to the presidency of Parliament (Quijano 150-151). Conclusion It is clear that the US intentions at the outset were genuine for the political, social, and economic uplifting of Latin Americans, but capitalism overpowered the desire to help the Latin Americans to grow and progress politically and democratically. Countries like Argentina were capable enough to give tough competition to the US strategic interests in the hemisphere. It gets proved that instability in Latin America got heightened due to American interference to fulfill its strategic military and political aims in the nineteenth century. Works Cited Linda, Hall, and Coerver Don. Tangled Destinies: Latin America & the United States.Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1999. Negretto, Gabriel L., and Jose Antonio Aguilar-Rivera. “Rethinking the Legacy of the Liberal State in Latin America: The Cases of Argentina (1853-1916) and Mexico (1857-1910).” Journal of Latin American Studies 32. 2 (2000): 361-397. . Quijano, Anibal “Paradoxes of Modernity in Latin America.” International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society 3. 2 (1989): 147-177. . The Monroe Doctrine, Presidential Messages of the 18th Congress, ca. Record Group 46; Records of the United States Senate, 1789-1990; National Archives. . Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Latin America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words”, n.d.)
Latin America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/history/1480139-latin-america
(Latin America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words)
Latin America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words. https://studentshare.org/history/1480139-latin-america.
“Latin America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/history/1480139-latin-america.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Causes of Political Instability in Latin America

Political and Economic Changes in Latin America

The paper "Political and Economic Changes in latin america" explains that their main component is democratization.... in latin america, as in other developing countries, governments, in most cases, are aware of the importance of maintaining the confidence of private investors and institutions like the IMF and World Bank.... Now the countries of latin america are facing new, more complex tasks, which differ from the previous problems in two crucial aspects....
20 Pages (5000 words) Essay

Latin America's Economic Progress

There is a persistent problem of political instability in the region.... [Instructor Name] Latin America's Economic Progress The economic progress in latin america since independence in the early 19th century has been disappointing.... Following are some of those reasons: Political Environment One of the main reasons behind the disappointing economic growth in latin america is the political environment of the region.... Since the independence of latin america, the political environment has not been stable enough to facilitate economic development....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Integration Efforts in Latin America

Integration efforts in latin america Name: Institution: Introduction The early decades of 1950's and 1980's were in a significant prudence the “Golden Age” of expansion for the unfortunate states in the universe.... In the auspicious conditions subsequent to the world war, majority of these states, particularly latin america started to achieve an industrial revolution.... Spanish Empire Leader, Simon Bolivar, had dreamt of a united latin america....
10 Pages (2500 words) Essay

Stereotyping of Latina Women in the United States

Origins and causes The portrayal of a certain group of people on camera cannot have much bearing on the group's place in the real world.... Stereotyping is not considered a negative quality but it does put into hot water those who are subjected to it.... In fact stereotyping by its very definition implies pinning the perception of a person to a one image....
4 Pages (1000 words) Research Paper

Latin American Politics: US-Sponsored Dictatorships

The e4ssay "Latin American Politics: US-Sponsored Dictatorships focuses on the criticla analysis of the major issues on the US-sponsored dictatorships in latin america.... further evaluation of the events that have transpired in Guatemala in the last century can provide a lens with which to view many of the other nations in latin america.... Drawing on anti-communistic fears, the US was able to intervene to install dictators and governments throughout the 20th century in latin america....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Economy of Latin America

Brazil is one of the top ten economies in the world at present and they are the largest economy in latin america.... This paper ''Economy of latin america'' analyses Brazilian economic developments in the past few decades.... latin AMERICAN PERSPECTIVES, Issue 171, Vol....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Power, System of Government, and Political Revolution in Latin America

The paper "Power, System of Government, and Political Revolution in latin america" states that Latin America continues to enjoy independence as the main result of the revolutions.... The events led to the creation of many independent nations in latin america.... he topic is Power, System of Government, and political Revolution in latin america Latin American Revolution and it entails a study on the major changes that have occurred in South American history....
12 Pages (3000 words) Case Study

Latin American Politics

For a very long time, latin america has come to be regarded as a good success story following the wave of many democratic developments that have proceeded the many years of the renowned cold war.... This paper examines some of the issues common in the politics of latin america especially the democratic rule of law.... ne of the biggest threats that have been identified as a hindrance to the democratic process in latin American countries is the idea of populism....
8 Pages (2000 words) Report
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us