The purpose of this paper is to analyze and critique the book, Inevitable Revolutions, by Walter LaFeber.
The central position of this book, which deals with U.S. relations with the five Central American countries--Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala--is that the United States has, for approximately 100 years, claimed those countries as fiefdoms of the United States, economically, politically and militarily, and thereby created the conditions for "inevitable revolutions," which have taken place over the last century and are still taking place today.
The story the author tells is nothing less than incredible, particularly since the facts and figures given in the book are generally not to be found in the American media. However, this is not surprising since in that media most information with a negative slant toward U.S. government interference in foreign lands, mainly for the protection of business interests, is stifled and must be investigated through scholarly research.
The author begins by giving the reader a tour of the five countries, discussing the ruling systems in each country and revealing facts about the poverty and squalor of living conditions for the majority of the people in each one. The rest of the book is divided according to time periods dating from America's Revolutionary War, in which LaFeber relates how the United States has dealt with the five countries. Both U.S. government and U.S. business policies are covered, with special reference to the attitudes of various pivotal American presidents toward Central America.
LaFeber explains that America's foreign policy has largely been guided by a faith in the efficacy of capitalism, a fear of foreign influence, a willingness to use military force, and a dread of revolution (18). This is a startling statement, since it undercuts the U.S. position as a promoter of the principles of the Declaration of Independence. In fact, says the...