US and Latin American Foreign Policy

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US and Latin American Foreign Policy

• STAGE 4 The Cold War
• 1950-1988

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US Foreign Policy towards Latin America

• The Cold War clearly dictated priorities of the
  US
• National Security Keep communism out of the
  hemisphere at all costs.
• This anticommunist crusade meant
  institutionalizing alliances (see OAS) in the
  region, propping up right wing authoritarian
  regimes, forcing governments in the region to go
  after domestic leftist subversives and if
  necessary, intervening militarily to overthrow
  leftist regimes.
• Fear of Soviet menace - Greatly exaggerated as
  stated by Smith!

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Harrry S. Truman 1945-1952
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Trumans Policies towards LA

• 1945 1950 a continuation of the Good Neighbor
  Policy
• In fact, US is still concerned with fascism at
  this point (See Perón!)
• 1950-1952 Turning point Reevaluation of
  nonintervention as perceived communist threat
  grows. See Miller and Kennan analysis (Smith,
  126-27)
• National Security within the hemisphere becoming
  paramount!

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ESTABLISHMENT OF OAS

• ADD INFO!!!!
• ALSO ADD PRIMARY SOURCES page numbers!

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Dwight D. Eisenhower 1953 - 1960
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Ikes Policies towards LA

• Ike and his Secretary of State, John Foster
  Dulles, took office after blasting Truman and the
  Dems for being soft on communism worldwide,
  including LA!
• Situation A democratic surge in LA in the mid
  40s had led to a growth in leftist political
  parties. By the late 40s- conservative backlash
• By early 50s Ikes administration reaches out to
  right wing military establishments in LA
• Dulles Do nothing to offend the dictators, they
  are the only people we can depend on.
• Why? Because they are staunch anti-communists
  and this is the PRIORITY!

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Ike and LA authoritarians team up!

• In order to curb the rise of communist influence
  in LA they work together in three ways
• 1) virtual elimination of LA communist parties
• 2) reassert state control over labor movements
• 3) Block the USSR from making diplomatic inroads
  in the region
• ALL were extremely successful!

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Guatemala 1954

• The first American military intervention in Latin
  America for over 20 years!
• Goodbye Good Neighbor! Stage 4 is official!
• See pages 135- 139 of Smith

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Vice President Nixons Trip to LA in May 1958

Met with constant anti-American protests
especially here in Venezuela! Blamed by Ike on
Communists Nixon The US should give a formal
handshake for dictators an embraso !!!! for
leaders in freedom. Led Ike to give LA more
economic assistance
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CUBAN REVOLUTION 1959

• Alarms Ike on his way out the door
• Passes on to his successor a plan to overthrow
  Castro

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Assessment of Ike in LA

• Ikes foreign policy left deep scars on Latin
  America (Smith, 142)
• President Figueres of Costa Rica Intervention
  is considered a worse evil than communism,
  especially since intervention never applied to
  foster a democratic cause.

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John F. Kennedy 1961 - 1963
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BAY OF PIGS April 1961

• The plan given to Kennedy by Ike.
• FIASCO!
• See Castro power point notes and Smith pgs 165-169

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JFKs Policies towards LA

• Attempts to make political comeback after failure
  of Bay of Pigs
• JFKs dilemma How to promote political
  democracy, a healthy centrist middle, without
  courting dictators or allowing communism to
  flourish in the hemisphere??
• Also- establish true economic reform for LA as
  well.
• The Answer.

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The Alliance for Progress!

• A Marshall Plan for Latin America! (August 1961)
• LA nations need to set up plans for development
• Redistributive reform (LAND REFORM)
• Sustained US economic assistance
• See goals and measures of program on Pages 150-
  151 of Smith

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Assessment of AFP

• Some Success Economic growth for Latin America
  in the early 1960s (see pg 153 for numbers)
• Socially more bad news than good. Very little
  changes for the better because LAND REFORM was
  not implemented!

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WHY DID THE AFP NOT MEET ITS GOALS?

• Only modest levels of US aid
• Misreading of social facts in region. Middle
  class in LA not the same as in the USA
• In LA Social Change and Political Conflict go
  hand in hand (unfortunately!)
• The miscalculation that a healthy center would
  grow!

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Oh and dont forget the POLITICAL FAILURES of the
AFP

• At the end of the day, DICTATORSHIPS, continued
  to flourish despite initial anguish by Kennedy!
• Between 1962-63
• Argentina, Peru, Guatemala, Ecuador, the DR and
  Honduras all experienced military coups!!!
• WHERES THE HOPE FOR DEMOCARCY IN LA? Answer
  NOT A PRIORITY!!!

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Lyndon B. Johnson 1963-1968
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LBJs Policies towards LA

• Considered JFKs idelaistic AFP a thorough-going
  mess!
• Brings in THOMAS C. MANN who brings back the Ike
  approach to LA.
• I know my Latinos, Mann once said. They
  understand only two things a buck in the pocket
  and a kick in the ass.

22
Mann Doctrine (pg 157-158)Bye-Bye Alliance for
Progress!

• Tenets
• Promote economic growth but no social reform!!!
• Protect US investments (sound familiar?)
• Do not bend over backwards for democratic
  institutions in LA
• Intervention justified to OPPOSE COMMUNISM
• See Brazil - 1964! (pg 158 of Smith) AND the DR
  (pgs 169-172)

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Richard M. Nixon 1969 - 1974
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Nixons Policies towards LA

• Rockefeller report (pg 159) The US has talked
  of partnership, but it has not truly practiced
  it.
• Could there be a change of approach in US policy?
• NO!
• Rockefellers answer Cozy up more to the Latin
  American military man! That is the meaning of
  partnership during Nixons administration!!!

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Chile and Allende 1970-73

• See pages 172-178 of Smith for in-depth analysis
  of US/CIA involvement.
• Also, Keen reading!

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Jimmy Carter 1977-1980
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Carters Policies towards LA

• HUMAN RIGHTS was at the top of his foreign policy
  agenda not just in LA but all over the
  world(well..at least most of it. Iran was not
  included!)
• Witdrew support for right wing military regimes
  in Chile (Pinochet), Nicaragua (Somoza),
  Guatemala and Argentina because of human rights
  violations

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Nicaragua - 1979

• Denying economic aid to an increasingly
  repressive Somoza regime led to victory for
  Ortega and the Sandinistas in 1979!
• Carter might have meant well, but in terms of
  Cold War foreign policy, his priorities were
  mixed up!
• The American political right slams the Carter
  administration for failing to halt spread of
  communism in the hemisphere!

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Ronald Reagan 1981-1988
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Reagans Policies towards LA

• Reagan immediately rolls back the missteps made
  by Carter in not squashing communism in LA.
• Takes a similar approach to Ike, LBJ and Nixon in
  terms of foreign policy in the region.
• Stop communism from spreading at all costs.
• THE REAGAN DOCTRINE (see next slide)
• See Alexander Haig quote (Reagans Secretary of
  State on pgs 178-179)
• International communist conspiracy! Talk about
  exaggeration!!

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REAGAN DOCTRINE DEFINED

• Reagan Doctrine (grew out of spirit of Nixon
  Doctrine)
• Support for freedom fighters across the globe is
  self-defense!
• Win back the gains made by the Soviet Union
  during Détente era.
• Explains Reagans bold approach to the USSR
  during his first term.
• Ratcheted up supplying the mujaheddin in
  Afghanistan (especially during second term)
• Also very effective in Latin America
• Grenada 1983
• US sent in the marines to overthrow
  semi-Marxist/pro Castro regime in tiny Caribbean
  island. Only moment in history US forces fought
  Cuba directly
• Nicaragua 1980s Communist Sandinista forces (w/
  help from Cuba) seized power from Somoza family
  in 1979. Reagan, throughout his two terms
  actively sought to covertly overthrown them.
• Trained/ equipped Contra forces w/o Congressional
  approval.
• Sothe USA secretly sold arms to Islamic Iran
  (HUH??!!!) to generate revenue to support this
  force in Central Amerca.
• This shady deal was uncovered. Big scandal!
  Iran-Contra affair.
• Dragged El Salvador and Honduras into the mess as
  well
• In Angola, Mozambique Reagan Doctrine not as
  effective.

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REAGAN TAKES IT TO A NEW LEVEL

• More direct/indirect US interventions to stop
  communism in Latin America than any other Cold
  War president!
• Grenada (pgs 178-182)
• El Salvador (182-83)
• Nicaragua (184-188)

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Assessment of American Foreign Policy in Latin
America during the Cold War (pgs 162-163, 188-89)

• The Priority for the USA Strengthening its
  position in relation to the USSR
• An enemy of my enemy is my friend The US
  needed to uphold friendships in the hemisphere,
  even if it meant dictatorial ones.
• Smith In the long run it was the perceived
  exigency of global issues, rather than a concern
  with Latin America, that gave shape to US policy.

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Assessment (continued)

• Thus, Stage 4 was all about continued American
  interference in the internal affairs of Latin
  American states. Both Democrats and Republicans
  attempted to forcefully overthrow each and every
  Smiths emphasis socialist government in Latin
  America!!!
• Washington clearly miscalculated and exaggerated
  the perceived threat of Soviet influenced
  communism in the hemisphere.
• Castro and the Sandinistas only turned to the
  USSR after the US adopted harsh policies towards
  them.

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Assessment (cont)

• Despite these misperceptions, overall the US
  SUCCEDED in halting communism in the hemisphere.
• The Bay of Pigs was the only unsuccessful
  intervention endeavor. The Sandinistas held on
  the longest, but eventually succumbed to American
  pressure
• All other leftist regimes were suppressed either
  directly or indirectly by the USA
• Smith Intervention worked

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LATIN AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY DURING THE COLD WAR

• NO CAN DO
• It was no longer possible to seek protection from
  a rival European power
• No chances of establishing subregional hegemony
  (Brazil and Argentina and nowChavez!)
• Appeal to international law to back up idealistic
  diplomacy (UN and OAS controlled by the US and
  the World Court ignored by the US!)

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Sowhat were the options??

• Defy the USA and pursue a SOCIALIST PATH
• Seek support of US by taking the Anti-communist
  road
• OrNON-ALIGNMENT. Gravitate to neither the East
  or West. Attempt to establish political,
  economic, cultural independence

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Option 1 Care to Defy?? The Socialist Path

• Leftist ideology extremely attractive message
  in LA - appealed to the oppressed presented
  promise to Latin Americans
• HOW?
• Est. Communist Political Parties could not
  gain momentum in LA because of religious reasons
  and too closely aligned with Soviet ideology
• Est. Socialist parties more flexible than
  communism, meant more success in Latin America.
  Preached anti-imperialist/nationalist message
  (Arbenz in Gmala and Allende in Chile)

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A major obstacle US interference!

• Any attempt to establish a leftist regimes was
  met with stiff resistance from Washington.
• Therefore the only alternative was

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ARMED REVOLUTION!!!
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THE CUBA MODEL

• Cuba set the standard for armed revolution in LA
  beginning in 1959.
• Castro and Che were big advocates
• 1st wave - 1960s (Guatemala, Venezuela Colombia,
  Peru and Bolivia where Che met his fate)
• Round 2 - mid 1970s to 1980s (Guatemala, Colombia
  and Peru)
• Most notable El Salvador 1970-1990
  Nicaragua and the Sandinistas 1979-1989

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A DIFFICULT PATH

• Castro and Ortega were the only armed revolutions
  successful in seizing political power in LA
  during the Cold War!
• Why the high rate of failure?
• Revolutionary movements needed extensive
  resources, not only their own, but widespread
  social support and military backing from
  governments in power.

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Fidelistas and Sandinistas

• Both rebelled against corrupt governments that
  were receiving little support from the US
  (Eisenhower and Carter turned away from Batista
  and Somoza respectively)
• Most important of all these right wing rulers
  were abandoned by EVERYONE including their
  natural supporters landowners and buisnessmen!

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Why couldnt relations be established between the
USA and these governments?

• According to Smith - possible in principle but
  not in practice!
• Incompatible for both sides!
• Revolutionary/Nationalist fervor in Latin America
  was rooted in anti-imperialism. It was the
  lynchpin of their political appeal!
• Naturally gravitated to the Soviet camp

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THE USA VIEW

• For the United States, hostility towards these
  leftist regimes was the sign of the times!
• Smith argues that this pushed both the Cuban and
  Nicaraguan governments into the arms of the USSR.
• This rigid, Cold War framework approach did the
  most to promote Soviet invovement in the
  hemisphere.

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Option 2 The Anticommunist Crusade

• The Cold War promoted leftist revolutionary to a
  certain extent. The CW promoted authoritarian
  regimes to a GREAT EXTENT.
• First and one of the most successful examples of
  dictatorships(in terms of longevity) Somoza
  dynasty in Nicaragua - 1930s to 1979
• Trujillo 1930-1961
• Batista 1952-1959
• What To Do List SEE SMITH, PAGE 200

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Dictatorship Lite- bureaucratic
authoritarianism

• 1960s 1980s
• Controlled by professional armed forces
• Multinational, local and state business alliance
• Strong anti-communist national security
  policies
• Brazil beginning in 1964
• Pinochet in 1973
• Argentina in 1976

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Oxymoron Promoting Anticommunism and Democracy

• Best example LA reaction to Jimmy Carters human
  rights campaign
• Unfair! Carter open to criticize human rights
  abuses in Latin America (Brazil, Guatemala, Chile
  and Argentina) but not in other parts of the
  world? Iran and the Philippines?
• Pinochet tests the US. Defiance! (page 206)

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A THIRD WAY NON-ALIGNMENT

• Version 1 Economic development
• 1948 Economic Assistance for Latin America (ECLA)
• Industrialization and regional integration
• See 207-210 of Smith

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Version 2 Foreign Policy

• Definition of NON-ALIGNMENT
• Avoid the East and West camps
• Promote international self-assertion of former
  colonial countries
• Militant anti-colonialism
• Pioneers Tito in Yugoslavia and Nehru in India
  NAM launched in 1955
• Denounce the Two Imperialisms The US and USSR

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CASTRO Politically savvy!

• Most outspoken and popular NAM Latin American
  leader.
• Through sheer charisma, was able to deflect
  criticism and avoid being defined as a Soviet
  lackey very much dependent on their economic aid.
• That is, until late 1979 when Castro failed to
  denounce the USSR invasion of Afghanistan. His
  NAM status took a hit.

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Assessment of Latin American Foreign Policy
during the Cold War

• Polarized the region as it was brought into the
  clash of ideologies between the superpowers.
• Some of the tension was real Cuban Missile
  Crisis 1962
• Some hyped up - Central American in the 1980s.
• The Cold War took a heavy toll on Latin America
  Smith pg 215

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Beneficiaries and Losers

• LA political right flourished throughout the CW
  with the exception of during the Carter
  administration at the end of the 1970s
• Socialist alternative was a much more difficult
  road only TWO out of THIRTY guerilla movements
  seized power in LA during the CW
• A Third Path A source of PRIDE but few
  incentives. Not a friend of the USA or
  Soviets??? What options do these nations have??
  More benefits to be had by aligning with the
  superpowers!
• - Smith, however, argues that it was successful
  in the long run because it preserved Latin
  American political integrity and SOVEREIGNTY.
  Look no further than Fidel!