Beneath the United States: A History of U.S. Policy Toward Latin America

Beneath the United States examines U.S. foreign policy toward Latin America from the 1780s through the 1990s. This historical analysis draws on diplomatic records, private papers, and public statements to document the evolution of U.S.-Latin American relations. The book traces key policy decisions and attitudes of U.S. leaders, politicians, and diplomats regarding their southern neighbors over two centuries. The narrative moves chronologically through major diplomatic events, economic policies, military interventions, and shifting strategic priorities that defined these international relationships. The work focuses on three central factors that shaped U.S. policy: national security interests, domestic politics, and the conviction of U.S. cultural and racial superiority. This detailed account exposes how deeply rooted assumptions and prejudices influenced American approaches to the region. The result is a critical examination of how power imbalances and cultural attitudes have fundamentally shaped international relations in the Western Hemisphere. Through this historical lens, the book raises essential questions about the nature of foreign policy and national identity.

Readers describe this as a detailed examination of U.S. foreign policy toward Latin America, backed by extensive research and primary sources. Readers appreciated: - Clear documentation of U.S. officials' attitudes and beliefs - Inclusion of original quotes and correspondence - Chronological organization that tracks policy evolution - Balanced presentation of evidence Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style - Repetitive examples and themes - Focus on elite perspectives rather than broader social movements - Limited coverage of post-1990 events Ratings: Goodreads: 4.27/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (22 ratings) Sample reader comment: "Exhaustively researched but could be more concise. The author proves his thesis about U.S. paternalism in the first 100 pages, then continues hammering it home for 300 more." - Amazon reviewer Several academic reviewers noted the book works better as a reference text than a cover-to-cover read due to its methodical, granular approach.

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🌎 Lars Schoultz's analysis spans nearly 200 years of U.S.-Latin American relations, from 1800 to 1990, making it one of the most comprehensive single-volume works on the subject. 📚 The book's title "Beneath the United States" comes from a quote by Mexican President Porfirio Díaz: "Poor Mexico, so far from God and so close to the United States." 🏛️ Schoultz served as the William Rand Kenan Professor of Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has authored several other influential books on U.S.-Latin American relations. 🔍 The work reveals how U.S. policymakers consistently viewed Latin Americans as inferior, and how this racial and cultural prejudice shaped foreign policy decisions throughout history. 💭 The book challenges the traditional "Good Neighbor" narrative of U.S.-Latin American relations by exposing the persistent patterns of hegemony and intervention that characterized U.S. policy in the region.