The USA and Latin America: the decline of greatness

Franklin W Knight

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

It is often said that great things are expected of great states, and much should be expected from the unusually blessed. The United States of America may be said to be unusually blessed. Few countries have acquired such extensive natural resources at such modest cost. A few intrepid settlers landed along the coast, destroyed the indigenous population and established themselves as lords of the land between the 17th and 18th centuries. They expanded their settlements by relentless local wars and astute purchases. Manhattan Island was an incredible bargain. The Louisiana and Gadsden Purchases were almost tantamount to real estate theft as the government expanded the territory of the USA from the Great Lakes to the banks of the Rio Grande and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. By the middle of the 20th century the USA was a powerful, highly respected and prosperous nation imposing its will globally.

The USA remains a nation of generous people rushing to help anyone wherever disaster strikes. The American way of life is widely copied around the globe, and until recently American know-how was taken for granted. In the 18th century, Americans had new ideas. In the 19th century they showed unusual industry. In the 20th century they projected leadership in a world challenged by incompatible ideologies. The USA could be good. But a nagging question concerned its greatness.

For one brief moment an opportunity presented itself. With the unexpected and sudden collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, it seemed that the single remaining superpower in the world would make a significant change in its international policies. One expectation was that instead of spending vast amounts of resources on preparing for war or waging it, there would be an enormous peace dividend that could be invested in human resources to help make the world a better place. Peace investments at home and overseas would be good for America and good for the world. Instead, the USA squandered the opportunity and irretrievably weakened itself at home and internationally.

Nowhere is the missed opportunity more manifest than across Latin America and the Caribbean. Their US policy has been so inconsistent and the attitudes so arrogant that one by one Latin American states are reducing their links with the USA. They can no longer trust the United States to be a good neighbour, an honest broker or a reliable trader. More and more repeated regional frustration reifies the assertion of Henry Kissinger that the United States does not have friends, only interests. Friends and interests are not incompatible; and good policies require consistent principles.

The election of Barack Obama electrified many throughout the region who took his promises seriously. He said at the Summit of the Americas in Port-of Spain in April 2009 that he wished to initiate a new era of mutual respect of regional cooperation and of multilateralism across the hemisphere. The 34 sophisticated political representatives from the region realised that history was not on their side and any new relationship with the USA could at any time be overtaken by events. Henry Kissinger might be crude but he was also correct. The president of the USA does not make policy single-handedly and Congress has never been respectful of Latin America and the Caribbean. In short, Obama could promise, but action was another matter entirely.

The litmus test of fundamental change revolves around US policy toward Cuba. For nearly 50 years the USA has been isolated on this issue, not only throughout the hemisphere but around the world. For nearly 50 years it has implemented a ludicrously ineffective trade embargo with the island. For 19 years the United Nations has voted overwhelmingly to deplore the inimical action. At the last vote in October 2009, despite some significant changes in the overall US policy to Cuba, the result was 187 to three with two abstentions. Israel and Palau supported the USA while Micronesia and the Marshall islands abstained.

That the Obama administration could not remove the useless Cuban embargo indicates the complex obstructionism of domestic American politics. A small anti-Cuban bloc in Congress can still impede important policy implementation by indefinitely delaying the appointment of officials or complicating the discussion not only of trade matters but also other issue of paramount importance to Latin America and the Caribbean such as immigration, foreign aid, and narcotics trafficking. Congress cannot take all the blame for further inaction on Cuba. The US spends millions of dollars actively subverting the Cuban government, presumably with administration support. Without any evidence it declares Cuba to be a terrorist state and loudly protested the recent self-imposed starvation death in jail of Orlando Zapata Tamayo.

The situation with many other Latin American and Caribbean states is rapidly deteriorating despite the periodical announcements in Washington of the imminence of a new era of good relations. The US has not shown sophistication, understanding or competent sensitivity to Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and his Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA). The Dudus Coke issue with Jamaica has been festering for more than a year, although this may not be a major issue for the USA. The failure to reverse the Honduran coup d'état against President Manuel Zelaya last year illustrated the impotency and isolation of the USA. The recent military agreement with Colombia has been widely criticised. Mexico is unhappy about immigration, trucking and violence across the border and is contemplating sanctions against US trade. Brazil, a major world player, has several urgent issues that could seriously impact future relations with the United States. These include trade, especially in autos, ethanol and sugar, climate change, international finance and nuclear non-proliferation.

Greatness lies in the ability to lead effectively and to combine brave words with good deeds. As Caribbean and Latin American countries go their own way and as China, Japan and the European Community increase their presence across the region, the United States loses prestige, influence and claims to greatness.

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COMMENTS (8)

Oniel Richard
3/18/2010

Wonderful response, Richie L. Lazy arguments by Mr Knight.

Peter Lawrence
3/18/2010

America bashing in the contexts described in the article makes no sense, and is just a 'bag a mout' ,unless you can 'put yu monay where yu mout' is, & stand like a man. Mitcheletti , for e.g. was a big man after the Zelaya oust , rejecting all US overtures for a facesaving arrangement by letting Zelaya serve out the remaining few months of his term, to give at least a symbolic rejection to coups as government change agent. NOW this dictator is claiming that the US is BULLYING (?)the honduras regime . HOW SO??? The US visas of the President and members of the Supreme Court of Honduras have been revoked. This argument is totally pathetic and slavish! In other words he expects to get away with the overthrow , then take a nice little vacation in the US to celebrate with friends. He cozied up to members of the GOP who hate even democratic leaning leftists more than they dislike fascist right wing dictators , probably hoping that they could protect him by bribing immigration officials, or blocking key legislation to pressure the Obama administration. No Go. Some in the GOP may have wanted to , but what could they do in the circs? Micheletti forgot about checks and balances. The GOP has to face voters-they can't take over the State Department by force of arms.

Richard Kitson-Walters
3/18/2010

Your essay was on point. Richie L has a problem extrapolating.

Richie L
3/17/2010

Mr Knight, check this:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/234965
"What does all this say about America's latest bout of angst? Yes, there are good reasons to be worried about the country's status if it cannot exert more fiscal discipline, stimulate investment, and remember its place in the world around it. But many of those problems are shared by others, too. If Americans are smart—and there's every reason to think they are—angst can be productive, generating new determination and new solutions. Don't blow off the problems, but don't count America out yet."

Noel Richards
3/17/2010

Very good response Richie L to a very poor analysis of the state of affairs of the world. No one is actually witnessing the decline of US power or influence, just the relative ascension of others. China is not the great power so many want to believe it is, rather it is under the US thumb since the US could remove MFN (Most Favored Nation) status that would quickly lead to the collapse of the Chinese economy. The US Corporations that use Chinese citizens for cheap labor would leave China like rats abandoning a sinking ship since there would be a closed market to those Chinese made American goods. I will give you some figures: US GDP US$14.2 TRILLION, Chinese GDP US$4.7 TRILLION. China only holds US$800 Billion of the US national debt of US$12.5 TRILLION, the majority is held by Americans. Americans hold approximately US$13.4 TRILLION of the private money (IRA's, 401k's etc) that circles the world to invest in emerging markets. Compare that to the next highest, Europe, which is US$5.5 TRILLION. Most of the hype you hear about China comes from those who want to make money from the large Chinese population, which is poor by the way. Do not confuse bad management with total collapse, that can be a fatal error.
Latin America is not the US' priority right now because of the two conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Chavez is a thorn, but he is containable without any effort on the US' part, he has enough problems of his own. The Honduras issue is being dealt with diplomatically, which as Richie L rightly states is what folks like yourself, Mr. Knight, clamored for as policy and now that you have it you criticize it as inadequate. Most of what you say sounds like someone crying out for attention. Mexico laying sanctions on the US is one of the most laughable comments I have seen in a long time. What kind of research have you done?
The Dudus issue is part of a much larger issue and will not go away. Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico and others are the larger concerns for the US, while Jamaica has unwisely placed itself in the middle as a major trans shipment route for drugs to the US. Your comment that Latin American countries are going their own way truly reflects how little you understand of geopolitics and economics. Much of the trade that now takes place between Latin American countries is financed by remittances from the US. What would these countries do without that source of funding?
If Jamaica wants respect from others, it has to start earning it by respecting itself and really trying to understand the world it is a part of without the influence of the type of wishful thinking that drives those who want to see the US humbled or broken. Your wish will not be granted.

3/17/2010

GREAT ARTICLE; NOW IT IS NOT `COMMUNISM VS. CAPITALISM;
IT IS FIGHT FOR DUE RESPECT AND `DUE PROCESS AND RESPECT FOR SOVEREINGTY!

howie J
3/17/2010

Mr. Knight, I wrote this yesterday before your article was published for another column but by then the column was closed, so I will post here to support your argument.
The U.S. is similar to empires of the past in at least one way; they all eventually expire. Egypt, Greece, Rome and even Great Britain are a distant memory because they had faults. What we learn from all of this is that perpetual dominance was promised to no one nation or people.
Almost 1500 years after the fall of the great Roman Empire and some 100 years or so after the fall of Great Britain we can still see great structures of the presence of these two great empires all across their colonies. What will be there to show, in any black country, as a reminder of the positive influence and greatness of the mighty U.S. 5, 10, 30 or 500 years after their fall? What will be there to show that America really cared for the peoples from whom it has obtained its resources?
Whatweneed

Richie L
3/17/2010

Professor Franklin, you wrote this same article about three months or so ago and I gave you a lashing for it.
.
My problem with you and others of similar ilk is the lack of thoughtful analysis of America's domestic and international situation and their effect on America's future global position.
.
To predict America's waning influence is so unoriginal. Everybody seeing America in recession and the rise of China is saying that. And it is easy to say so to the unsophisticated eyes. But America's decline is neither imminent nor inevitable. In the 80's the same thing was said. Japan was supposed to take over as the leading power and we know where that went. Now China is rising, no doubt about that. But anything could happen on the horizon that could derail all of that.
.
I would want you to provide a more thoughtful extrapolation of America's future position based on its present strengths, while at the same times looking at the positions of other would-be world leaders.
.
America is still a vibrant country with strong institutions, both governmental and non-governmental. There is a vibrant political scene and you alluded to it, but instead got bogged down in the seeming negative. I look at the back-and-forth between Congress and the President as good. Robust debate gives robust legislation and policies.
.
America still has the world's preeminent universities. And their quality is not declining as those in the rest of the world catch up. Many future technology that lead to great industries come from these universities.
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The US still has capital markets that support new ideas more than anywhere else. For a budding entrepreneur there is no place better than the US for getting funding.
And lastly you fail to add the resolve of the Americans when they face national crisis. American, both rank and file and leaders will summon the will when they have to. President Obama is on the verge of overhauling the health care system. Once he is finished, I would like to think he will tackle other structural problems in the US. There is a saying that things have to get real bad before they get better and you may be witnessing that in the US.
.
In foreign policy you talk about America throwing its weight around then you flay it for "The failure to reverse the Honduran coup d'état against President Manuel Zelaya ". Wait! You want America to reverse a coup in another country?!
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Tell us Professor, how would America reverse a coup, without resorting to to the same policies of yesteryear that you decry?
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Sir, I submit that your article comes from a laziness. You wrote this same thing before and didn't even take the time to make it more balanced this time.
.
Richie

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The USA and Latin America: the decline of greatness