Thank God They're on Our Side: The United States and Right-Wing Dictatorships, 1921-1965
Select Format
Select Condition 
Book Overview
Despite its avowed commitment to liberalism and democracy internationally, the United States has frequently chosen to back repressive or authoritarian regimes in parts of the world. In this comprehensive examination of American support of right-wing dictatorships, David Schmitz challenges the contention that the democratic impulse has consistently motivated U.S. foreign policy.
Compelled by a persistent concern for order and influenced by a paternalistic racism that characterized non-Western peoples as vulnerable to radical ideas, U.S. policymakers viewed authoritarian regimes as the only vehicles for maintaining political stability and encouraging economic growth in nations such as Nicaragua and Iran, Schmitz argues. Expediency overcame ideology, he says, and the United States gained useful--albeit brutal and corrupt--allies who supported American policies and provided a favorable atmosphere for U.S. trade.
But such policy was not without its critics and did not remain static, Schmitz notes. Instead, its influence waxed and waned over the course of five decades, until the U.S. interventions in Vietnam marked its culmination.
Compelled by a persistent concern for order and influenced by a paternalistic racism that characterized non-Western peoples as vulnerable to radical ideas, U.S. policymakers viewed authoritarian regimes as the only vehicles for maintaining political stability and encouraging economic growth in nations such as Nicaragua and Iran, Schmitz argues. Expediency overcame ideology, he says, and the United States gained useful--albeit brutal and corrupt--allies who supported American policies and provided a favorable atmosphere for U.S. trade.
But such policy was not without its critics and did not remain static, Schmitz notes. Instead, its influence waxed and waned over the course of five decades, until the U.S. interventions in Vietnam marked its culmination.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0807847739
ISBN13:9780807847732
Release Date:May 1999
Publisher:University of North Carolina Press
Length:400 Pages
Weight:1.23 lbs.
Dimensions:1.0" x 6.1" x 9.1"
Customer Reviews
1 rating
a must-read
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
For anyone who wants to cut through the lies of 'just wars' and 'global cop' or 'the US supports democracy and freedom,' this book is essential. A long, close look at US foreign policy, based mostly on primary sources (presidential libraries), the book tells in the words of the decision-makers the prejudices guiding these wise men directing the course of 'democracy.' Mussolini, the Shah of Iran, Batista, et al., all 'our' allies despite the fact of democratically-elected governments the US had to push out of the way to make way for the strong-arm despots. Schmitz makes a good case that this was all due to paternalism (those little brown/yellow people aren't ready for democracy; anti-communism (the democratically-elected gov'ts the US replaced with dicators generally desired agrarian reform); and simple racism (see paternalism). They didn't teach me this stuff in school . . . A great bibliography represents long, hard scholarship, and the index makes this a great reference work.
Copyright © 2025 Thriftbooks.com
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
