Daily Kos: History lesson: Failures of US interventions abroad

by Sharon Jumper
Wed Jul 19, 2006 at 06:38:06 PM PDT

With all of the diaries of late about "What the US should do" with respect to other countries' problems, especially in the Middle East, where so few even bother to consider cultural and societal differences, I decided to post a chunk of my research on the history of US interventions abroad.

Yes, it's lengthy. Yes, it's highly referenced. Students - consider this a gift bibliography...but be warned, the paper WILL show up in TURNITIN, so if you use any of my actual words, so be sure to cite me!

Introduction

There are several paradigms through which the level and nature of American intervention abroad can be viewed: isolationism, capitalism, multilateralism, militarism, nationalism, and determinism. Isolationist nations seek to insulate themselves from revolution and other failures suffered outside its contiguous borders (Graebner, 1956, p. 19). Capitalist nations seek expansion and growth through private ownership, free enterprise, competition, investment, and acquisition of resources (Dowd, 1993, p. 58). Multilateralist nations seek mutual cooperative agreements for defense, trade, legal, political, and economic transactions (Aviel, Muldoon, Reitano, & Sullivan, 1999, p. 1).

Nations that are militaristic display "an attitude of belligerency and an act of hostility towards other nations" (Winslow, 1948, p. 3). Imperialistic nations not only possess the "ability and willingness to use military power, but also identify the territories on and against which such power must be employed" (Winslow, p. 3).