This week’s readings and videos were particularly interesting to me. The “American Empire” that was constructed in Latin America was more subtle than those empires that had previously existed in the region, and existed through the use of different means. Nevertheless, it can be considered an empire in the sense that it was an external force that effectively dominated the internal structure of certain smaller states in Latin America. Even if not nominally an empire, at the end of the day American dominance relied (and arguably still relies) on the same export infrastructure that was built up during the colonial era.

However, the most interesting thing about American hegemony during this period was that it was not purely militaristic. The United States also earned popularity among many classes of Latin Americans through the power of its industry. To many, the United States because synonymous with advanced technology and modern technology. American goods and services were introduced into Latin American markets, and many affluent people wished to emulate the American lifestyle, as it was associated with comfort and satisfaction.

One fascinating example of where both of these aspects of American hegemony existed side by side is the construction of the Panama Canal. In the early twentieth century, thousands of workers were brought in under the supervision of the American military, and worked in deadly conditions to create a wonder of engineering in Central America, controlled from Washington DC. This is clearly an example of imperialism. However, in the construction of the canal, a massive sanitation project was undertaken. This was surely done to maximize worker productivity so as to better serve American interests, but undoubtedly it did have some very real positive effects in Panama, and won the United States many friends in the region.

The American empire was established not exclusively through external means. Increasing American influence had a polarizing effect on the domestic politics in these countries. Many people within Latin America welcomed an increased American presence in the region. In the countries that they dominated, the United States furthered its agenda through the use of like-minded, opportunistic domestic politicians such as Jorge Ubico or Rafael Trujillo. Both of these examples are clearly dictators who mistreated vast portions of their citizenry, but we cannot discount the fact that they (and the United States) did have some degree of domestic support.

Ultimately, the American empire is something that Latin Americans were involved in, it’s not something that simply happened to them. It wasn’t purely domination or coercion, but some combination of that and consent. The pre-existing social hierarchy laid out by European colonialism allowed for a mutually beneficial relationship between the Untied States and the top of Latin American society, even as this was simultaneously disastrous for the lower classes.