AN ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT AMERICAN INFLUENCE IN LATIN AMERICA

In: The annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Band 366, S. 117-126

Abstract

Influence is quite distinct from popularity or image. Our firm stance in the Dominican Republic in 1965 was not popular in Latin America, but it had profound influence, & probably cleared up any remaining doubt as to the serious view taken by the US toward the threat of another communist takeover in a neighboring area by indirect aggression. Hopefully, in the future the Org of Amer States will put enough teeth & timeliness into its collective security functions under the Rio Treaty so that member states will not again be faced with such a problem. But US influence is persistent & pervasive in areas other than that of 'realpolitik'. The exemplary role of the US has been signif since the era of independence. This can stem as much from the conduct of our domestic affairs as it does from our foreign affairs, eg, on the positive side, the 1960 election of the first Catholic President, &, on the negative side, our civil-rights drama. Important influence is exercised through educ, econ ties, & co-operative instruments like the Inter-Amer Bank & the Alliance for Progress. The influence of one constructive initiative is immeasurable. Modified HA.