How Should the US respond to Modern Latin American Revolutionary Movements?
The Johns Hopkins University
How Should the US respond to Modern Latin American Revolutionary Movements?
Chris Fernandez
Terrorism and Counterterrorism/AS.191.390.01
Professor Max Abrahms
21 December 2012
Introduction and Thesis
Ever since the tragedy surrounding the attacks of September 11th, 2001, the United States and her allies have placed an almost unmitigated focus on terrorism in the Middle East. While that focus is not misplaced, the nature of terrorist insurgency movements in Latin America matter more significantly for America’s regional and global hegemonic status in the long term. From a purely historical perspective, the United States associated their foreign policy platform with the adoption of the Monroe Doctrine in 1823, exhorting European powers to end their meddlesome machinations in Latin America. In 1823, the United States was demonstrating its commitment to regional hegemony. As 2013 arrives, America is now struggling to maintain its role as the world’s lone superpower. This role is entirely dependent on the US’ unquestioned influence over the entirety of the Western Hemisphere. New provocative threats have arisen to challenge US influence in Latin America, however; most notable among them are those states forming what has become known as the “Pink Tide”. The Pink Tide refers to the phenomenon in Latin America of Socialist sympathizers assuming control of state power over the past decade or so. It is my firm belief that the United States can regain its footing over the rising influence of the Pink Tide by the way it confronts future terrorist threats.
Before heading further into this introduction, I wish to define what I mean by Revolution and Democracy, two words I will use often in the construction of the coming analysis. The political scientist Mostafa Rejai defines revolution “to include movements that seek the overthrow of a political regime, even if they fail to attain this
How Should the US respond to Modern Latin American Revolutionary Movements?
Chris Fernandez
Terrorism and Counterterrorism/AS.191.390.01
Professor Max Abrahms
21 December 2012
Introduction and Thesis
Ever since the tragedy surrounding the attacks of September 11th, 2001, the United States and her allies have placed an almost unmitigated focus on terrorism in the Middle East. While that focus is not misplaced, the nature of terrorist insurgency movements in Latin America matter more significantly for America’s regional and global hegemonic status in the long term. From a purely historical perspective, the United States associated their foreign policy platform with the adoption of the Monroe Doctrine in 1823, exhorting European powers to end their meddlesome machinations in Latin America. In 1823, the United States was demonstrating its commitment to regional hegemony. As 2013 arrives, America is now struggling to maintain its role as the world’s lone superpower. This role is entirely dependent on the US’ unquestioned influence over the entirety of the Western Hemisphere. New provocative threats have arisen to challenge US influence in Latin America, however; most notable among them are those states forming what has become known as the “Pink Tide”. The Pink Tide refers to the phenomenon in Latin America of Socialist sympathizers assuming control of state power over the past decade or so. It is my firm belief that the United States can regain its footing over the rising influence of the Pink Tide by the way it confronts future terrorist threats.
Before heading further into this introduction, I wish to define what I mean by Revolution and Democracy, two words I will use often in the construction of the coming analysis. The political scientist Mostafa Rejai defines revolution “to include movements that seek the overthrow of a political regime, even if they fail to attain this