In the wake of World War II, the world was exhausted by conflict and ready for a change. During the six years of war, 53 million lives were lost. The Second World War left Western Europe and Asia in ruins. After the war, Korea and Germany divided up between communist and non-communist governments. Thus began the Cold War—a division of the world between communism and capitalism.(Ambrose 1997: p599-605)
But in the countries occupied by the United States, there was hope. Europe and Japan were being rebuilt by the United States. Change for good was taking place in the countries under American occupation. While the Red army enforced a police state in occupied Eastern Europe, the United States created programs like the Marshall plan and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to form stable democracies with sound economies in Western Europe. (Ambrose 1997;p 599-605)
It was the destructive power of World War II that kept the Cold War from becoming a hot war. The searing memories of the war kept either side from striking out. Additionally, the possession of nuclear weapons made the complete annihilation of the human race possible for the first time ever in history. If they dropped the bomb then we were certain to retaliate - mutually assured destruction. The memory of the mushroom cloud over Hiroshima left deep scars on the psyche of the generation that witnessed it. The pictures of the destruction clearly demonstrated the power of atomic weapons. As we can see, the two great super powers of the world were at a stand still.
The communist system of the U.S.S.R was in direct opposition to the market capitalism of the United States. It was this environment that lead to the political nature of the cold war; both powers felt threatened and stockpiled weapons to intimidate the other. The situation was more a consequence of imagined fear than actual aggression made by either side.
The people of both these countries and the world lived in fear of nuclear war. This lead to an “us versus them” mentality that dominated the world scene for decades. It was this fear that not only led to great achievements like the Marshall Plan, but also justified support of totalitarian vicious dictators in countries that supported our agenda national interests.
A prime example of hypocrisy of American foreign policy is the United States relations with Latin America. For decades before the Cold War, relations with Latin America had been strained. Control of Latin America was typical of the United States foreign policy.
The Spanish American war was the first attempt for domination. This was followed by the occupation of many Latin American countries such as Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic further alienating the region (Heller 2006). From 1898 - 1934 there were at least twenty- five armed interventions in Latin American states.
With the FDR administration however came the Good Neighbor Policy, which was successful in creating good relations with Latin America (OurDocuments.gov). The Good Neighbor Policy was a policy announced by FDR in his inaugural speech of 1933, and called for intention of respect when dealing with Latin America.
In his inaugural speech FDR said “In the field of world policy, I would dedicate this nation to the policy of the good neighbor - the neighbor who resolutely respects himself and, because he does so, respects the rights of others - the neighbor who respects his obligations and respects the sanctity of his agreements in and with a world of neighbors.” This policy was enforced through such actions as the Platt Amendment that enforced extensive U.S. intervention in Cuba. In another act of following the good neighbor policy, U.S. troops were taken out of Panama in 1936. Actions like these helped to begin to heal the wound between Latin America and the United States. (Brewer 2006)
During World War II, relations with Latin America were strong. This was in part because of the Good Neighbor Policy. Latin America was more willing to trust after some of the steps taken to lessen American dominance in the region. Now the threat of the Axis power in WWII gave the hemisphere a reason to unite. Most Latin American countries were too small to guard against attack. Therefore, aligning themselves with the United States offered some protection. For the four years of war, Latin America extended their cooperation through military and economic means to the United States. In turn the United States assisted technically and financially in Latin American development.
However, after the war, little support was given to Latin America to protect against Soviet aggression. Although progress was made in Europe to contain Soviet expansion on a more positive note, the same courtesy was unfortunately not extended to Latin America After the war, the threat of communism seemed greater in Eastern Europe, Asia and possibly the Middle East. The United States gave little attention to Latin America.
While the United States was giving $400 billion in aid through the Marshall Plan, nothing was given to Latin America. Before the depression of the 1930’s the United States was the leading foreign investor in the region. During this time the economy of the Latin American states relied heavily on exports. With the blow of the Great Depression, Latin American countries were hit hard and exports to North America declined rapidly. This economic hardship sowed the seeds of political turmoil.
Of course this can be true of many places in the world. Much of the anti–American sentiment in the world today can be traced to actions that were taken in the Cold War. Relations were lost with Iran when the United States instated the Shah. The overthrow of Albenz, mentioned before, led to decades of military rule and oppression of the Guatemalan people. American fear of socialism has been the root of much of our misery and misery around the world.
Perhaps Kennedy and other U.S. leaders should have looked at the outcome of the Cuban revolution and considered the similarities between our two countries. During Kennedy’s presidency racial segregation was a huge issue of the time. Both JFK and his brother Robert were proponents of equal rights among the races. Castro’s regime did away with the laws that segregated the races in Cuba.
Decades before the health care debate in the United States, universal health care was available to the Cuban people. Perhaps, as a nation we should take a hard look at the history this paper is on and reconsider some of our biases towards socialism. With many million Americans without health insurance and the growing tuition across college campuses across the country, maybe our own anti- socialism/ communism stance has gone full circle. Maybe the very thing we have so ardently believe will hurt us will actually help us.
Author Sunil S.
But in the countries occupied by the United States, there was hope. Europe and Japan were being rebuilt by the United States. Change for good was taking place in the countries under American occupation. While the Red army enforced a police state in occupied Eastern Europe, the United States created programs like the Marshall plan and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to form stable democracies with sound economies in Western Europe. (Ambrose 1997;p 599-605)
It was the destructive power of World War II that kept the Cold War from becoming a hot war. The searing memories of the war kept either side from striking out. Additionally, the possession of nuclear weapons made the complete annihilation of the human race possible for the first time ever in history. If they dropped the bomb then we were certain to retaliate - mutually assured destruction. The memory of the mushroom cloud over Hiroshima left deep scars on the psyche of the generation that witnessed it. The pictures of the destruction clearly demonstrated the power of atomic weapons. As we can see, the two great super powers of the world were at a stand still.
The communist system of the U.S.S.R was in direct opposition to the market capitalism of the United States. It was this environment that lead to the political nature of the cold war; both powers felt threatened and stockpiled weapons to intimidate the other. The situation was more a consequence of imagined fear than actual aggression made by either side.
The people of both these countries and the world lived in fear of nuclear war. This lead to an “us versus them” mentality that dominated the world scene for decades. It was this fear that not only led to great achievements like the Marshall Plan, but also justified support of totalitarian vicious dictators in countries that supported our agenda national interests.
A prime example of hypocrisy of American foreign policy is the United States relations with Latin America. For decades before the Cold War, relations with Latin America had been strained. Control of Latin America was typical of the United States foreign policy.
The Spanish American war was the first attempt for domination. This was followed by the occupation of many Latin American countries such as Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic further alienating the region (Heller 2006). From 1898 - 1934 there were at least twenty- five armed interventions in Latin American states.
With the FDR administration however came the Good Neighbor Policy, which was successful in creating good relations with Latin America (OurDocuments.gov). The Good Neighbor Policy was a policy announced by FDR in his inaugural speech of 1933, and called for intention of respect when dealing with Latin America.
In his inaugural speech FDR said “In the field of world policy, I would dedicate this nation to the policy of the good neighbor - the neighbor who resolutely respects himself and, because he does so, respects the rights of others - the neighbor who respects his obligations and respects the sanctity of his agreements in and with a world of neighbors.” This policy was enforced through such actions as the Platt Amendment that enforced extensive U.S. intervention in Cuba. In another act of following the good neighbor policy, U.S. troops were taken out of Panama in 1936. Actions like these helped to begin to heal the wound between Latin America and the United States. (Brewer 2006)
During World War II, relations with Latin America were strong. This was in part because of the Good Neighbor Policy. Latin America was more willing to trust after some of the steps taken to lessen American dominance in the region. Now the threat of the Axis power in WWII gave the hemisphere a reason to unite. Most Latin American countries were too small to guard against attack. Therefore, aligning themselves with the United States offered some protection. For the four years of war, Latin America extended their cooperation through military and economic means to the United States. In turn the United States assisted technically and financially in Latin American development.
However, after the war, little support was given to Latin America to protect against Soviet aggression. Although progress was made in Europe to contain Soviet expansion on a more positive note, the same courtesy was unfortunately not extended to Latin America After the war, the threat of communism seemed greater in Eastern Europe, Asia and possibly the Middle East. The United States gave little attention to Latin America.
While the United States was giving $400 billion in aid through the Marshall Plan, nothing was given to Latin America. Before the depression of the 1930’s the United States was the leading foreign investor in the region. During this time the economy of the Latin American states relied heavily on exports. With the blow of the Great Depression, Latin American countries were hit hard and exports to North America declined rapidly. This economic hardship sowed the seeds of political turmoil.
Of course this can be true of many places in the world. Much of the anti–American sentiment in the world today can be traced to actions that were taken in the Cold War. Relations were lost with Iran when the United States instated the Shah. The overthrow of Albenz, mentioned before, led to decades of military rule and oppression of the Guatemalan people. American fear of socialism has been the root of much of our misery and misery around the world.
George W. Bush as Ex-President
Establishment of Cape Town in South Africa
Perhaps Kennedy and other U.S. leaders should have looked at the outcome of the Cuban revolution and considered the similarities between our two countries. During Kennedy’s presidency racial segregation was a huge issue of the time. Both JFK and his brother Robert were proponents of equal rights among the races. Castro’s regime did away with the laws that segregated the races in Cuba.
Decades before the health care debate in the United States, universal health care was available to the Cuban people. Perhaps, as a nation we should take a hard look at the history this paper is on and reconsider some of our biases towards socialism. With many million Americans without health insurance and the growing tuition across college campuses across the country, maybe our own anti- socialism/ communism stance has gone full circle. Maybe the very thing we have so ardently believe will hurt us will actually help us.
Author Sunil S.
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