Q REPORTS — The article “What History Tells Us About Trump’s ‘Big Stick'” explores the historical roots and implications of the “big stick” policy in U.S. foreign relations, particularly in Latin America, and how it relates to former President Donald Trump’s approach.
The phrase “big stick” originates from Theodore Roosevelt’s philosophy of “speak softly and carry a big stick,” which emphasized diplomacy backed by the credible threat of military force.
The article traces the origins of this policy to early 20th-century U.S. interventions in Latin America, such as the occupation of Nicaragua and influence over Venezuela, establishing the U.S. as a regional enforcer.
This approach prioritized maintaining order and U.S. interests through a combination of diplomacy and military presence, often supporting right-wing regimes and interventions.
In the context of Trump’s presidency, the article suggests that his foreign policy echoed this historical doctrine by combining aggressive rhetoric with strategic use of power to influence Latin American countries.
Trump’s stance reflected a continuation of this “big stick” legacy, focusing on asserting U.S. influence and using pressure tactics to achieve policy goals in the region.
Overall, the article argues that understanding this historical backdrop sheds light on the persistence of assertive U.S. policies in Latin America and how Trump’s “big stick” approach fits within a long tradition of American diplomacy and interventionism in the hemisphere Americas Quarterly.
SIX KEY U.S. ADMINISTRATIONS
- 1817–25 James Monroe
Monroe outlined the region’s most famous “doctrine,” warning European powers against further colonization in the Western Hemisphere. As conceived by his administration, the doctrine was mainly defensive, asserting U.S. interests without committing to military intervention or regional management. - 1901–09 Theodore Roosevelt
Roosevelt dramatically expanded U.S. interventionism through the Roosevelt Corollary, claiming a U.S. right to act as a “police power” in Latin America. His presidency marked the shift from hemispheric warning to direct occupations and financial control, especially in the Caribbean and Central America. - 1909–13 William Howard Taft
The author of “Dollar Diplomacy,” which saw Latin America primarily through the lens of trade and corporate interests—and often used U.S. military force to support them. Attempted to create a protectorate in Nicaragua. - 1933–45 Franklin Delano Roosevelt
FDR reversed decades of military intervention with the Good Neighbor Policy, pledging non-interference and respect for sovereignty. Under his leadership, U.S. troops withdrew from occupied countries, and helped pave the way for Latin American countries to join the Allied cause in World War II. - 1961–63 John F. Kennedy
In the wake of the Cuban revolution, Kennedy aimed to contain communism through the Alliance for Progress, an ambitious economic development program. He also resorted to direct military action including the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban blockade of 1962 that almost led to nuclear war with the Soviet Union. - 1981–89 Ronald Reagan
The U.S. became deeply involved in wars in Central America, which Reagan saw as an integral part of the global fight against communism. His 1983 invasion of Grenada reaffirmed the U.S. willingness to use military force following the non-interventionist Jimmy Carter years.