Part III: The End of the Monroe Doctrine

This post will be based on:
Ch.14 - The New Rules of the Game
Ch. 15 - Mexico: The Umbilical Cord
Ch. 16 - Venezuela: Bolivar's Revenge
Ch. 17 - Columbia: The Andean Balkans?
Ch. 18 - Brazil: The Southern Pole
Ch. 19 - Argentina and Chile: Very Fraternal Twins
Conclusion: Beyond Monroe

Map of Latin America - from http://www.as.miami.edu/clas/images/Latin%20America%20Map.jpg

The most likely superpower to spread its sphere of influence is the US in Mexico and South American region. Because of the immensity of oil in these regions, any superpower that is partners with it will have be energy sufficient. With China having an upper hand in Eurasia, and the EU developing close ties with many Eastern European nations, it is America that needs the support of the nations of the Americas more than anyone else.

Mexico

Throughout history, America has presented much resentment to its neighbours in its "hot-and-cold style of diplomacy" (p.127). In the case of Mexico, America's biggest task is to limit the amount of illegal immigrants crossing into its border. This amount of immigration is good and bad for the States. The immigrants take the jobs that the Americans don't want, but the number of people comming is putting a strain in the American health care and education systems. I think the Americans have an obligation to keep up with the illegal immigrants because it is mostly their fault that the Mexicans are fleeing their homeland. Ever since 2001, China has "outpaced Mexico in manufacturing and textile exports to the United States". Because of this, many jobs were lost, and with nowhere else to turn, America is the first place people went. Like the situation in Mexico, many of the South American countries are not fully on the same page as Americans because it has let them down.

Venezuela

In Venezuela, Hugo Chavez runs the show. Like I mentioned earlier, countries are made up of people and people are the ones who ultimately decide which superpower to lean on. Chavez is the supreme dictator of a country that can possibly produce even more oil than Saudi Arabia. When the US endorsed a coup against Chavez in 2002, Chavez demonized the US when the coup was unsuccessful, since it is a threat to his "Bolivarian revolution"(p.141). Ever since then, US is not a welcomed guest in Venezuela. Therefore, Chavez sides with China, lowering the flow of oil to the US, provide oil to China and selling American refineries to invest in Asian ones. In exchange, China helped Venezuela by building houses, a communications network and irrigation systems. Even though Chavez is not on friendly terms with the States, it can never fully move itself away from this superpower because if closeness to it.

Hugo Chavez - from http://www.africapresse.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/hugo-chavez.jpg

Colombia

Like the situation in Mexico, Colombia is experiencing American outsourcing of textile production industries in favour of those in China. The US is also limiting the diversification of exports wanting more coffee, oil, bananas and flowers. Because there is reduced industry in the area, many people are turning into oppourtunities in the black market. Columbia is the source of "almost all of the cocaine and half the heroin sold in the United States" (p.146). The Americans are trying to combat the drug trade but in order to do so, they will need to create more jobs and industry within Colombia. Colombia is even a bigger asset today it imediately follows Venezuela in oil reserves.

This video is of John McCain during his electoral campaign. He supports free trade with Columbia while Obama opposes it. Is this a smart move for Obama?

The other superpowers are also active in Colombia. The EU is supporting farmers and entrepreneurs to encourage a shift away from just raw materials exports, and China is desperately searching for oil deposits, while dropping its goods to the Colombian market. Therefore, if American doesn't pick up its game, another nation will soon take precidence.

Brazil

Brazil is a country that has a huge economy, one of the world's top ten. Because of this, it is tremendous say in the affiars of South America. Again, America did not please another South American nation. In WWII, Brazil helped American by providing them with steel, however, 50 years later, the US blocks steel imports from Brazil. That was not a very good move by the States. In 2003, Brazil formed the G-20 coalition with China, Inda, and South Africa, giving a valid opposition to the EU and America.

Brazil steel factory - from http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/11/18/business/18steel.600.gif

Argentina

Argentina had a financial meltdown and foreign investors are scared to invest in it. Therefore, the country is now dependent on agricultural exports to China for its restoring, giving China much power in Argentina. Because of high-tariffs and heavy subsidy policies of the US for trade, Argentina is turning to China for better trade. As usual, China is willing to give out the money if it means having control over a country's resources

Chile

Chile is a country that is close to joining the first world. It has free trade agreements with the States, EU, China, Japan and Korea. This country is willing to cooperate and is not letting grudges be in the way of economic success. It is willing to bargin with countries to get what it wants, like giving "Bolivia access to its ports in exchange for almost all if the oil and gas Chile needs" (p.164).

Summary

In order for a superpower to succeed, it has to think about its actions and its affect on the emotions of the people within outside nations. In order for a second world nation to move up to the first world, it has to learn that it cannot base its economy on the emotions of its people.