Critique of Inevitable Revolutions (LeFeber)

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 speci

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ce forces and national guards whom the United States thought would be "non-political." In fact, the United States created the most politically effective organizations in the five countries. Not only are the police forces, national guards and armies political, but they are the only means the dictators have had to stay in power. When the national guard deserted Somoza in Nicaragua in 1979, for example, the party was over. The oligarchies have also used these armed forces, given them special favors, and depended upon them to keep themselves in power. Land reform, much needed to give the peasants more land, has been stifled at the point of a gun. Since the early part of this century, the United Fruit Company (later United Brands), has exported crops from the five countries. These products are mainly coffee, bananas and cattle. Since the oligarchies and American businesses (who can buy land in return for the governments' receiving aid) own most of the arable land, little land is left for the peasants to grow rice, beans and pork (their staple diet). Once again, the peasants go hungry while the rich live in regal style. The rich have no qualms about selling the land of their country to the Americans, depositing their money in
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Central America, Central American, Guatemala--is United, United Brands, Catholic Church, Somoza Nicaragua, American Congress, America LaFeber, Monroe Doctrine, War LaFeber, central america, central american, according author, five countries, foreign policy, el salvador, countries central, status quo, inevitable revolutions, countries central america, forces national, police forces national, central american nations, forces national guards,
Approximate Word count = 1538
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)