Woodrow Wilson\'s Idealism and Human Rights Today

Woodrow Wilson

Wilson's idealism was the progenitor of the modern human rights movement

President Wilson delivered a speech to the Pan American Union in December, 1913

the Monroe Doctrine was "unfolding into a new doctrine -- the Wilson Doctrine of Pan Americanism" (Brooks, et al., 2007).

Wilson said his proposal was based "…upon the principles of absolute political equality among states, equality of right, not equality of indulgence" (Brooks)

But to ward off the expansion of Soviet communism the U.S. supported dictators

was willing to "support violent dictators with a record of human rights abuses as long as they declared themselves anticommunist" (Galvan, 2012)

THREE: The U.S. trained forces for military dictators

As a way to preserve "U.S. hegemony" in the 20th century the U.S. trained and provided funding for "friendly dictators" in the 1930s and military dictatorships in the 1970s, all in the name of destabilizing "every left-leaning regime in Latin America" (Livingstone, 2003).

FOUR: President Carter tried to move the U.S. away from support for Latin American Dictators

Speaking to the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1977, President Carter said the U.S. stands "…eager to stand beside those who respect human rights and which promote democratic ideals" (Schmitz, 2006).

FIVE: A more updated U.S. policy under Obama supports human rights during the Arab Spring

During the "Arab Spring" uprisings in Libya, Egypt and Syria the U.S. has sided with the rebels against tyrannical dictators (Hosenball, 2012).

Thesis #2: Wilson's idealism capture the imagination of modern U.S. And started a movement that today is a staunch supporter of human rights.

ONE: The U.S. Department of State spells out the official U.S. policy vis-a-vis human rights

The U.S. seeks to: a) hold governments accountable under universal human rights norms; b) promote greater respect for human right including freedom from torture, women's rights, freedom of expression: c) promote the rule of law; d) assist the UN Human Rights Commission; and d) coordinate the activities that relate to human rights with allies and the EU (U.S. State Dept).

TWO: After WWI President Wilson tried to get his Fourteen Points accepted

The Fourteen Points proposal was designed to end war and offer nations the chance to deal more fairly in terms of justice and "self-determination"

Although the 14 Points didn't mention "human rights" specifically (and the League of Nations didn't survive) what Wilson did was start a movement (Weissbrodt, et al., 2007).

THREE: Wilson didn't get the world to accept his Fourteen Points, but he made a difference