Virtually no state has as much
international influence as the USA. On the basis of Washington´s
Farewell Adress from 1796, Monroe´s State of the Union Address from
1823 and Theodore Roosevelt´s State of the Union Address from the
year 1902 the development of the U.S. foreign policy is examined.
In the early years the USA aimed for as
little political contact to trading partners as possible. Avoiding
long-term aliances with European states strict neutrality should be
maintained in order to foreclose any risk to the peace and prosperity
of America by rivalries in Europe. Only in exceptional emergencies it
should be agreed on short-term treaties when the military superiority
and self-defense was assured.
Only 20 years after the Decleration of
Independance in 1776 it is also reflected in the Farewell
Adress of Washington
that the demarcation of the former colonial powers of Europe
had priority over international influence. Instead, they wanted to
focus on building their independent, sovereign state, taking no risk.
This rather pragmatic isolationism
Washington´s was also continued in the so-called “Monroe
Doctrine”, which was decisive until the end of
the 19th century. Now with bigger confidence, still emphasizing the separation
of Europe and the USA Monroe speaks in 1923 of the defense of
democratic order. Thus, an attack on a acknowledged independent state
is also seen as an agression against the United States, which must
therefore have an intervention result. In concrete terms, this meant
the protection of former colonies in the Carribean and Central
America by the establishment of protectorates. The “Monroe
Doctrine” can be succinctly summarized in the exlamation “America
for the Americans”. This also included consequently that the
Americans theirself held out of European affairs, as it was expected
that the Europeans did not to exert any influence on the United
States.
Only at the end of
19th century the isolation was given up as political principle. The
unprecedented economic boom encouraged the American self-confidence
and let the “Manifest Destiny”, the conviction of the American
people to be chosen to spread civilisation liberty in the world, and
which the North American continent was already conquered with, turn
into imperialism. Stability, peace and prosperity should now be
garanteed even in the neighboring nations. Chronic law violation,
inability or unwillingness to maintain law and order, therefore,
entailed intervention. Fulfills a state its obligation – including
economic ones – it can count on the support of the United States,
even towards the Europeans. So had – and has – the USA the
self-image of an international police power. Theodore Roosevelt in
his State of The Union Address 1902:
"It is a commonplace to say that every nation, whether America or elsewhere, which takes interest in maintaining its freedom and independence, must realize in the end that the right on independence cannot be separated from its responsible use."
The USA now compete
with other industrialized nation for colonies and gain control over
some Pacafic islands for instance the strategically important Hawaii.
Also, they don´t stick at military action: In a long and bloody war,
the Philippines are colonized and Cuba is defended against the
Spaniards. Furthermore, they intervene several times in Mexico and
the Caribbean.
Thus, the former
colony becomes an imperialistic world power with own colonies that
until today feels destined to distribute the alleged “proper” way
of life in the world. The relations with the European states and
Brussels – exept for NATO – are since the end of Soviet Union of
decreasing importance in the USA and the emerging states of China,
India, Russia and Brazil are getting more important at the expense of
Europe.
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