Preview

American Foreign Policy: Realpolitik Vs. Human Rights

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1663 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
American Foreign Policy: Realpolitik Vs. Human Rights
American Foreign Policy :Realpolitik vs. Human Rights
(1)Should the U.S sometimes pursue realpolitik and sometimes human rights? In other words, is it acceptable for the U.S. to someimes anything even support dictators, if it is good for the nation, sometimes pursue moral priciples when it can reasonably do so?.(2) I think the U.S. should do what is in the best interest of the United States for example, (3)Just one day after the French surrender at Dien Bien Phu, an international conference to settle the Indochina conflict began in Geneva, Switzerland. There , representatives of the French and Vietminh attempted to to map out Indochina’s future. Cambodia, Great Britain, Laos, the People’s Replublic of China, The Soviet, and the United States.
…show more content…
government, Tomic's Christian Democrats voted together with Allende's supporters to confirm him as president. Indigenous and peasant forces across the country violently took control of ranches, forcibly fulfilling Allende's land redistribution promises. Immediately after the election, the United States expressed its disapproval and raised a number of economic sanctions against Chile. In addition, the CIA's website reports that the agency aided three different Chilean opposition groups during that time period and "sought to instigate a coup to prevent Allende from taking office. By 1973, Chilean society had grown highly polarized, between strong opponents and equally strong supporters of Salvador Allende and his government. Military actions and movements, separate from the civilian authority, began to manifest in the countryside. A failed military coup was attempted against Allende in June 1973. After the coup, Chileans witnessed a large-scale repression, which started as soon as October 1973, with at least 70 persons murdered by the Caravan of Death. The four-man junta headed by General Augusto Pinochet abolished civil liberties, dissolved the national congress, banned union activities, prohibited strikes and collective bargaining, and erased the Allende administration's agrarian and economic reforms. The junta jailed, tortured, and executed thousands of Chileans. According to the Rettig commission and the Valech Report, close to 3,200 were executed, …show more content…
used the human rights policy because I gave job to the people of Panama. (11) President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian Chief of Government Omar Torrijos signed the Panama Canal Treaty and Neutrality Treaty on September 7, 1977. This agreement relinquishes American control over the canal by the year 2000 and guarantees its neutrality. On May 4, 1904, Panama granted the United States the right to build and operate the canal and control the five miles of land on either side of the water passage in exchange for annual payments. This first treaty is officially titled The Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal and is commonly known as the Neutrality Treaty. Under this treaty, the U.S. retained the permanent right to defend the canal from any threat that might interfere with its continued neutral service to ships of all nations. The second treaty is titled The Panama Canal Treaty, and provided that as from 12:00 on December 31, 1999, Panama would assume full control of canal operations and become primarily responsible for its defense. Both treaties were subsequently ratified in Panama by a two-thirds majority in a plebiscite held on October 23, 1977. To allow for popular discussion of the treaties and in response to claims made by opponents of the treaty in the U.S. that Panama was incapable of democratically ratifying them, restrictions on the press and on political parties were lifted several weeks prior to the vote. On the day of

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Political problems stood in the way, though, because Panama was a province of Colombia. When Colombia did not agree to the canal, the United States used its military presence to help Panama to rebel against Colombia and gain independence. After Panama became independent, the United States got Panama’s permission to build the canal. Construction of the Panama Canal was one of the world’s greatest engineering accomplishments. Work began in 1904 and took 10 years.…

    • 566 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Roosevelt’s imperialist tendencies manifested themselves most strongly when he attempted to gain the right to build a canal in Central America which would help to connect sea routes between the East and West coasts. When the Colombian government balked at granting permission for the United States to build a canal, Roosevelt used money and a naval blockade to support a revolution in Panama, which would later be the site of the canal; the new country of Panama readily allowed the construction of the canal, also giving the United States perpetual control over the canal for $10 million and relatively small annual payments in the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903. Another example of Roosevelt’s imperialism was the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, which stated that the United States was allowed to intervene in any Latin American country which had serious economic issues to “preserve their stability.” With the Platt Amendment, Roosevelt also limited the newly independent Cuba’s autonomy and self-government. These policies were designed to increase America’s direct influence in Latin America.…

    • 569 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    On May 4, 1904, the The U.S. took control of the Panama Canal property. Aware of the possibility of Europe interfering in the internal affairs of Latin American nations, President…

    • 2538 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    <br>The United States claimed that they would build the Panama Canal for the advantage of Panama. Roosevelt said that he advanced "the needs of collective civilization" by speeding up the building of an interocean canal. The Canal was built by the United States for the use of the United…

    • 453 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Manuel Noriega Case

    • 1611 Words
    • 7 Pages

    controlled Panama Canal. The U.S decided to bulk up on their defenses of the canal, and 9000 soldiers joined the 12,000 already in Panama in preparation for the oncoming explosion. In the meantime, Noriega nullified an election, keeping him in power indefinitely, in lieu of winner Guillermo Endara. Tempers flared on December 16, 1989, when an off duty marine was shot and killed by PDF forces, The next day, President George H. W. Bush implemented Operation Just Cause, an invasion with the intent of deposing Manuel Noriega, who had gone a bridge too…

    • 1611 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Article I of the Hay-Bunau-Varilla treaty states that America guarantees and will maintain the independence of the Republic of Panama. This was the result of promising Panama that America would help the country become independent from Columbia. Hay, John and Phillipe Bunau-Varilla. Article III states that America has all the rights, power, and authority of the Panama Canal Zone. The Panama Canal consisted of the isthmus of Panama, a 5-mile stretch of land on each side of the isthmus, and four islands in the bay of Panama: Perico, Naos, Culebra, and…

    • 1590 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    After all, they reasoned, this canal would be closer to America by hundreds of miles. Nicaragua also had less disease, and the U.S. had six treaties with the country allowing it to build a canal there. But Roosevelt wanted the canal in Panama, and he eventually got his…

    • 1013 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Panama has a population of 2.77 million people. The population mainly consists of mestizo, white, and West Indian blacks. The four largest cities in Panama are Panama City, San Miguelito, Colón, and David. The Panama Canal was opened on August 14, 1914. Panama signed treaty with the United States giving rights to control an area of the canal that is ten miles wide and fifty miles long. The Canal Zone played an important role in trade for most of the 20th century. The Canal was transferred to Panama on December 31, 1999. Panama is economically and politically dependent on the United States. Education in Panama started in 1903. Primary and Secondary education flourished in the 20th Century. Panama now has one of the highest literacy rates in Central America (Education…

    • 1233 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Isabel Allende is a prolific Chilean Author who is read around the world and has received numerous awards for her work; she serves as a voice for the Chilean people and their recent history. For the story you are about to read, it’s important to know that she is the niece of Salvador Allende, the President of Chile from 1970 – 1973. His presidency ended after a bloody coup in which Salvador Allende’s life ended. During his final speech at the Presidential Palace, gunfire and explosions were heard throughout the city as opposing forces approached the Palace. Some believe he committed suicide before he could be killed by the enemy, but others believe he was killed by Augusto Pinochet’s men. Pinochet assumed power and ruled as a dictator from 1973 – 1990. Throughout this time, Isabel Allende’s family received death threats, was nearly assassinated, and had to flee to Venezuela to seek refuge for 13 years.…

    • 419 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    After Teddy approached the Colombian senate, they denied the Panama Canal treaty, sadly. This made Roosevelt more determined to get what he wanted and wouldn’t stop until he got it. Teddy reached his goal and the Panama Canal treaty was now granted to him. On August 15th, 1914, the Panama Canal was proudly opened. Although there was a beginning to a war in Europe, it did not stop the excitement behind all the works to have the canal finally…

    • 750 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The United States obtained the Panama Canal because President Roosevelt was exceedingly resolute to acquire a waterway that would enable the U.S. Navy to sail rapidly between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This would strengthen the Navy and, in return, satisfy his goal to expand American power in the world. The only possible locations for the canal were Panama and Nicaragua. Constructing a canal in Panama would cost less money to complete; however, the land would have to be purchased from a French company. The company’s demanding price was outrageously exorbitant, therefore, Nicaragua became the better choice. Because of that, the French company lowered the price of the land seeing as they still wanted some money. A decision had to be made…

    • 379 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Chile’s military, specifically the Chilean Air Force, were enlisted to end the Allende Administration. Their desire to see Allende out of the presidency ended with the bombing of the presidential palace, the La Moneda on September 11, 1973, which prompted Allende to commit suicide and resulted in a 17 year dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet (Hellinger 2011, 171). The resistance of the elites and their aiding of the United States in a military coup, led to the breakdown of democracy in the Chilean government.…

    • 1843 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Decision of building the Panama Canal was beneficial to the U.S The Panama canal was built between 1904 to 1914 by the U.S Army, the canal connects the pacific ocean and the Atlantic ocean. The Panama canal was built to save time when sending ships of merchandise for selling or trading instead of going all the way around Cape Horn. The Panama Canal was worth it and a good decision to the U.S. The canal was still worth it despite what the canal costed because of the commercial goods, trade and military transit. There are 35 to 40 shippers that pass through the Panama canal a day.…

    • 620 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    global issue, realist and liberal international relations theories can be applied to climate politics in order…

    • 2672 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

     Democracy in Chile  During the early 1970s, Chile had a democratically elected government under President Salvador Allende.  The government was liberal towards the workers and the poor people of Chile.  Various welfare policies were adopted by the government for emancipating the poor such as milk for the children, distribution of land to landless farmers, and restricting the entry of foreign companies.  Military Coup of 1973  A military coup led by General Augusto Pinochet.  The President’s house was bombed by the military and Allende died in it.  General Augusto Pinochet became the President of Chile and ruled it for the next 17 years. The military government mercilessly killed thousands who supported Allende.  Restoration of Democracy in Chile  Military General Pinochet’s dictatorship came to an end in 1988 after a referendum.  The army’s role in the Chilean government was eradicated and a democratically elected government was formed.  In 2006, Chile got its first women President– Michelle Bachelet  Democracy in Poland  Poland was under the United Workers Party in the 1980s.  No other party was allowed to take part in the political process of the country.  The state of employment was bad in Poland. The workers could not form their independent trade unions.  A strike was organised by the workers of the Lenin shipyard on 14th August 1980 in Gdansk. It was led by Lech Walesa.  The main demands of the workers were –  Right to form trade unions.  Release of political prisoners.…

    • 734 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays