Foreign Policy in the Caribbean

Foreign Policy in the Caribbean Basin

Was the Early Twentieth-Century U.S. Policy in the Caribbean Motivated by Economic Concerns?

Recent American military interventions in the Middle East revived old debates about core issues that motivate U.S. foreign policy, its drive for dominance, and the question of imperialism. Was the invasion of Iraq motivated by American economic interests in the region (e.g. oil) or was it motivated by security concerns and the willingness to bring democracy to the Middle East? This actually appears to be an old debate by historians who have been debating whether the beginning of U.S. military interventions, especially in the Caribbean at the start of the twentieth century, was also rooted in economic interests.

Professor Walter LaFeber answers this question with an emphatic "yes," while Professor David Healy argues that the United States policy in the region was aimed at eliminating German threat and developing the economies of the region since, Americans believed, people in the Caribbean were racially inferior and incapable of effective self-development. After reading both points, I came to a conclusion that LaFeber has a stronger argument. So, the answer to the question posed in the title of this essay is "yes." Economic concerns were the primary motivation behind U.S. political and military interventions in the region.

LaFeber analyzes U.S. policy in the Caribbean within the context of rising economic power of the United States and the calls by business interests for economic expansion since the dramatic increase of U.S. economic power after the Civil War (thanks primarily to massive industrialization) convinced American leaders that there was too much surplus that needed to be exported and capital that could be used in foreign markets. LaFeber does not say, however, that there were no other reasons behind U.S. policy in the Caribbean. He suggests that other reasons were secondary and complementary to economic goals. First and foremost, Americans were interested in enriching themselves and the policy of the government reflected this goal.

Healy agrees that there were economic concerns but he argues that there was multiplicity of goals. He specifically emphasizes that Americans were concerned about German threat to American interests in the region. He also notes that Americans viewed Central Americans with disdain and racial arrogance, so their goal in the region was to "civilize" them and develop economically. While I believe these are noteworthy points, they do not negate the fact that economic concerns were at the forefront of U.S. policy in the Caribbean. American leaders were aware that German military threat to American national integrity was severely limited. The threat Germany posed was directed at American economic interests in the region.