Good Neighbor Policy and Pan-Americanism

Franklin D. Roosevelt's Good Neighbor Policy

• Defined as a foreign policy prioritizing improved U.S.-Latin American relations via cooperation and respect for sovereignty, abandoning military intervention.
• Context included 20th-century US interventionism in the Caribbean and Central America, the 1929 economic crisis, and rising threats from Axis powers.

Pan-Americanism

• A movement promoting peace and cooperation among American nations, but with internal tensions between ideals and U.S. hegemony.
• Key institution was the Pan American Union (UPA), established in 1910 for coordinating inter-American relations.
• The U.S. pursued a complex relationship, balancing cooperation with its own dominant role (evident in the Monroe Doctrine and military interventions). Latin American nations simultaneously resisted U.S. influence while strategically using inter-American bodies to safeguard sovereignty.

Historical Evolution (1890-1928)

• Marked by U.S. interventionism through the Monroe Doctrine and Roosevelt Corollary, justifying interventions in Latin American countries (Cuba, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Haiti).
• The Spanish-American War (1898) saw U.S. emergence as a regional power and the rise of anti-American sentiment.
• The Panama Canal (1914) bolstered U.S. dominance in the region.
• Latin American responses focused on non-intervention and rising anti-imperialist ideologies.

Turning Point (1928-1932)

• The 1928 Havana Conference showcased Latin American resistance to U.S. dominance, prompting a policy shift by Washington.
• Herbert Hoover's administration exhibited positive signals, like a goodwill tour and criticism of military intervention.
• The 1929 economic crisis and U.S. protectionist measures (Smoot-Hawley Tariff) worsened trade relations and tensions.

Roosevelt's Good Neighbor Policy (1933-1945)

• Roosevelt pledged respect for Latin American sovereignty and renounced territorial expansion by force in his 1933 inaugural address.
• Key policy changes included repealing the Platt Amendment (ending U.S. intervention rights in Cuba), and withdrawing from Haiti, symbolizing a move away from direct military intervention.
• The policy was further demonstrated by U.S. acceptance of Mexican oil nationalization.
• Global context involved the threat of Axis powers, necessitating hemispheric solidarity.

Cultural and Intellectual Cooperation

• The Division of Cultural Relations (DCR) fostered cultural exchange between the Americas.
• The Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs (OCIAA) aimed at Latin American economic stabilization, countering Axis influence and promoting inter-American engagement. Hollywood and Walt Disney's films played a part.
• This resulted in an improved U.S. image in Latin America.

Assessment and Limitations

• The Good Neighbor Policy initially improved U.S.-Latin American relations and strengthened inter-American cooperation, facilitating hemispheric solidarity before WWII.
• However, limitations included sustained U.S. economic and strategic interests and continued distrust between the parties.

Illustrative Examples

• The 1933 Montevideo Conference established the non-intervention principle, and the 1936 Buenos Aires Conference introduced mutual consultation on external threats.
• The Mexican oil nationalization showcased a diplomatic balance between respecting sovereignty and U.S. interests.

Conclusion and End of the Policy

• The Good Neighbor Policy was a period of cooperation and respect constrained by economic and strategic considerations.
• The policy's legacy included improved cultural diplomacy and inter-American cooperation, but it was a temporary shift before the interventionism of the Cold War.
• WWII's end, the UN's founding, and FDR's death marked the Good Neighbor Policy's conclusion.

Impact of the United Nations

• The UN's establishment at the San Francisco Conference (1945) reflected great power politics. The principle of veto power for permanent Security Council members challenged the ideal of equal sovereignty amongst states that had been present in the inter-American system previously.
• Latin American representation was limited within the UN structure, reflecting a decreasing focus on continental solidarity.

Shifting Priorities

• Post-war reconstruction in Europe and containment of Communism superseded hemispheric relations.
• The ideal of mutual respect and cooperation between American nations diminished in the face of evolving global challenges.

From Mutual Understanding to Anti-Communism

• The Cold War era altered U.S. approach to Latin America, shifting from partnership to actively opposing communism.
• Direct intervention returned in the pursuit of halting communist influence.

Guatemala Coup (1954)

• The United States CIA orchestrated a coup against Guatemalan President Árbenz.
• This intervention was driven by concern that Árbenz's reforms threatened U.S. corporate interests, especially the United Fruit Company.
• This event signified a return to a more forceful and interventionist U.S. policy in the region.

Consequences

• The principles of non-intervention and respect for sovereignty were abandoned in favor of Cold War tactics.
• U.S. interventionism in Latin America set the stage for broader conflict and created enduring instability.

Explore Franklin D. Roosevelt's Good Neighbor Policy and its impact on U.S.-Latin American relations. This quiz delves into the historical context of early 20th-century U.S. interventionism, the rise of Pan-Americanism, and the complex balance of power between cooperation and U.S. hegemony.