NEIGHBORS AT ODDS: U.S. Policy in Latin America

by Elaine Pascoe ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1990

A dry but useful analysis of the last 150 years' worth of our foreign policy's successes and failures in this hemisphere. Organizing her survey around the various expressions, corollaries and renunciations of the Monroe Doctrine, Pascoe shows how the US promoted its own political and economic interests from Mexico to Argentina, while keeping European influence to a minimum. She sees the roots of Latin America's present turmoil in the slowed growth of industry--thanks largely to this country's demand for raw materials--plus local autocratic traditions, sharp class (but not racial) distinctions, and a military active in internal affairs. The standard of living in Latin America actually dropped during the 1980's, but many of the countries are learning to work together; Pascoe believes that--despite the invasion of Grenada, various covert operations, and the initial response to the Panamanian ""election"" of May 1989--US influence is on the wane. Emigration, political corruption, and the drug trade are discussed, but not in detail. Though names and dates parade through a stream of generalities here in classic textbook style, this will prepare serious readers very well for more narrowly focused books, such as Dolan's Cuba and the U.S. (1987). Index.

Pub Date: March 1, 1990

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 158

Publisher: Watts

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1990

Categories: CHILDREN'S