When imperialism was good
While working on my U.S.-Latin America textbook (news of its release will be coming in the not-too-distant future) I've enjoyed reading old textbooks on the topic. One of the most important and influential was Samuel Flagg Bemis' The Latin American Policy of the United States. I have the edition published in 1943, though I think it went through more than one edition (or at least stayed in print).
Worth mentioning is his chapter, "The Advent of Imperialism (1895-1899). It is incredible reading because it provides a glimpse into a time when imperialism was openly called a good thing:
Ah, the good old days. Back when men sat in wood-paneled rooms with whiskey and cigars, mapping out the future of the heathen. The chapter is quite a read, as it culminates with a discussion of the Platt Amendment and how it wrapped Cuba warmly in "protective imperialism." Funny how they always seemed to resent it...
In the last decade of the nineteenth century imperialism laid its mantle over Manifest Destiny and galvanized that traditional faith of the American people in their expansive future with a purpose and a philosophy that went beyond the old blind instinct for the achievement and security of the Continental Republic, even one including all of North America (p. 123).
9 comments:
I have a 1936 edition of the National Encyclopedia (10 volumes) and it's also a very interesting read, too. Where did you find that gem?
It is incredible reading because it provides a glimpse into a time when imperialism was openly called a good thing
Nowadays they just call it "liberal internationalism" to avoid all the fuss.
I had just happened to find the book used a few years ago, though actually more are now being digitized on Google.
Justin, there's still nothing quite like good old fashioned imperialism.
Justin, there's still nothing quite like good old fashioned imperialism.
What about Iraq? Looks pretty old-fashioned to me.
But in the good old days, nobody in the U.S. complained, there was no bad press, no protests, etc. Today's imperialism ain't got the same soul.
But in the good old days, nobody in the U.S. complained, there was no bad press, no protests, etc. Today's imperialism ain't got the same soul.
No doubt it doesn't have the same soul. For one thing, American racism is nowhere near as blatant as it was in the first half of the 20th Century. The "White Man's Burden" rhetoric just doesn't fly any more.
But the truth is that the press isn't complaining about imperialism now either. The establishment press doesn't even recognize its existence (despite the fact that staunch conservatives like Niall Ferguson do). We've gone from a situation in which the press openly celebrated American imperialism to one in which the press just pretends it doesn't exist today. Not much progress, I think.
I like that old time imperialismo.
Call me a relic, call me what you will.
Let me guess...you just saw Risky Business on cable over the weekend.....
My lord, what a dolt I am. I didn't even pick up on the lyrics until Mike mentioned it.
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