The Monroe Doctrine?

Question

The Monroe Doctrine expressed the idea that new countries should be allowed to develop without interference from stronger nations. In your opinion, do you think that the United States still follows this policy? Also, do you think that such a policy should be followed in the modern world?

Answer 1

If you are allowing peaceful countries to develop, the answer is yes. If you think that despotic nations will be allowed to germinate and prosper, you have another thing coming. Why should that be allowed? It should not.

Answer 2

The Monroe Doctrine as originally written said, first, that the US would not tolerate any further expansion of European powers in the New World, and that, second, the US would not interfere in global conflicts between European countries and their colonies unless US territories were directly affected. However, we have used the Monroe Doctrine as a springboard to "rescue" weaker nations, regardless of location, from what we perceive as unwholesome interference from a stronger power. This has given us the reputation as the "cops of the world" sometimes, and twice (Vietnam and Iraq) we have seen that this policy is often misguided, unpopular and unsuccessful.

However, our nation always has the right to defend its national interests if those are threatened by any other nation.

Answer 3

We followed the Monroe doctrine for a long time - that was part of the reluctance to get involved in World War II. We only engaged when our own land was threatened.

Since the attack on Afghanistan was to locate and destroy leaders of the terrorist organization Al Quaeda, that was justified and not covered by the doctrine; but our interference in the interanal politics of Iraq, where there was no clear and present threat to our nation, was a departure from the doctrine.

Answer 4

No, I do not believe the United States follows this doctrine. However, on the other hand, I do not think that other, weaker countries would want the U.S. to follow the doctrine as well. Though many people would think that the U.S. is overbearing on weak countries, there are also many positive things that come out of the United States asistance such as the war on AIDS in Africa and monetary assistance to various other nations. In the modern world, the Monroe Doctrine should be overlooked because it would not be the moral thing to do, in terms of having one nation rise to prosperity while other nations waddle in poverty.

Answer 5

That is not the core of the Monroe Doctrine. The Monroe Doctrine was basically to tell Europe to keep their nose out of the Western Hemisphere, and any wars that Europe wanted to start or get involved with anywhere in the West would be considered hostility to the USA.

The USA continues to follow this policy, even though it is outdated, and misses the importance of China to South America.

Answer 6

With the world getting smaller each day,(population, information age etc.), it's a very hard to do. Don't get me wrong. I think that it's a noble doctrine but, in this day and age, it's simply impossible to enact it as a policy.

Answer 7

New countries would be requiring help by way of transfer of technology for their development. While stating not interfering with their development, this transfer of technology at what costs only must be decided, so that they should be able to cope up with the new demands themselves.
VR

Answer 8

no, this is not followed. if a country does not agree with everything the US does, we place trade restrictions on them and persuade our allies to do the same. this is interfering.

Answer 9

You make a good point...