The Effects of the War on Drugs in Latin America-United States Relations The history of Latin America’s relations with the U.S. has often been one of U.S.’s dominance and power over their affairs. Due to different factors such as Latin America’s low level of development, difficult economic situations, and its political struggle, as well as the U.S. policies of interventionism, good neighbour-ism, and its interest over Latin America’s natural resources, the U.S. has been able to maintain its power over the region, with short periods of diminished control. The relatively recent “drug problem” that has plagued the Americas in the last decades has given the U.S. a new wave of influence over Latin America. The U.S. has established the goal of “defeating
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Oftentimes, many Latin American countries are weary of U.S. intervention, but their need for economic assistance leaves them little choice than to accept U.S.’s aid and influence. Sometimes states actively seek to receive aid from the U.S. Usually, there is opposition from certain groups in the U.S. to giving aid to Latin America, however, there is also support from other groups because of liberal ideas, or private interests. Nonetheless, the U.S. government and the Latin American governments have benefitted from the war on drugs, as well as other private actors like corporations and businesses, making it a difficult endeavour to discontinue the efforts against narcotics. Interestingly, the war on drugs, which has increased U.S. influence, may also be the way for Latin America to assert its independence and to reduce or completely stop American interventionism. The many negative effects of the war on drugs have popularized the idea of legalizing drugs, which may in the long run undermine the United States power over Latin America. This essay argues, then, that the U.S. -Latin America relations have been influenced by the negative effects of the war on drugs, leading to the legalization of …show more content…
Despite the level of development of many Latin American nations, deep problems inherited from colonialism remain, such as a society divided between the “the landed rich and the landless poor,” and “large shares of their economies … owned by foreigners” (Bagby 326). This deep economic gap, as well as the high numbers foreign direct investment, have created a pronounced economic struggle and political instability throughout the area, as well as dependence on foreign aid. Consequently, it facilitated the U.S.’s control of their relations, especially during times of American interventionism. Certain policies and goals like the Monroe Doctrine, which sought to keep Latin America from European control (Tulchin 359), the Washington Consensus, which showed U.S.’s desire to retain its great-power status after the Cold War by asserting control of Latin America’s natural resources (Buono 154), the goal of promoting democracy and liberal ideas, which permitted the U.S. to interfere with the sovereignty of Latin American nations, the threat of communism spreading, which led to the U.S. lending funds to different governments or revolutionary groups, and most recently, the war on drugs, which allowed the U.S. to bring its military power and its monetary aid to Latin American countries, have undermined the power and
Oftentimes, many Latin American countries are weary of U.S. intervention, but their need for economic assistance leaves them little choice than to accept U.S.’s aid and influence. Sometimes states actively seek to receive aid from the U.S. Usually, there is opposition from certain groups in the U.S. to giving aid to Latin America, however, there is also support from other groups because of liberal ideas, or private interests. Nonetheless, the U.S. government and the Latin American governments have benefitted from the war on drugs, as well as other private actors like corporations and businesses, making it a difficult endeavour to discontinue the efforts against narcotics. Interestingly, the war on drugs, which has increased U.S. influence, may also be the way for Latin America to assert its independence and to reduce or completely stop American interventionism. The many negative effects of the war on drugs have popularized the idea of legalizing drugs, which may in the long run undermine the United States power over Latin America. This essay argues, then, that the U.S. -Latin America relations have been influenced by the negative effects of the war on drugs, leading to the legalization of …show more content…
Despite the level of development of many Latin American nations, deep problems inherited from colonialism remain, such as a society divided between the “the landed rich and the landless poor,” and “large shares of their economies … owned by foreigners” (Bagby 326). This deep economic gap, as well as the high numbers foreign direct investment, have created a pronounced economic struggle and political instability throughout the area, as well as dependence on foreign aid. Consequently, it facilitated the U.S.’s control of their relations, especially during times of American interventionism. Certain policies and goals like the Monroe Doctrine, which sought to keep Latin America from European control (Tulchin 359), the Washington Consensus, which showed U.S.’s desire to retain its great-power status after the Cold War by asserting control of Latin America’s natural resources (Buono 154), the goal of promoting democracy and liberal ideas, which permitted the U.S. to interfere with the sovereignty of Latin American nations, the threat of communism spreading, which led to the U.S. lending funds to different governments or revolutionary groups, and most recently, the war on drugs, which allowed the U.S. to bring its military power and its monetary aid to Latin American countries, have undermined the power and