By Bob Newland
Many of us when thinking of US Imperialism, look at the 20th Century and Vietnam, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Chile, Iraq and Libya. This fascinating book looks at a much earlier period focussing largely on the Pacific. The authors put forward a theory that the growth of European Imperialism began with state intervention and that economic interests and their increasing demands followed. In contrast to this, they suggest that in the case of the US, particularly in the Pacific, economic interests came first, establishing their activities and only called for state intervention when those interests were threatened by local populations or foreign competitors.
The authors present a great deal of facts and figures to show the way in which the US established a trading empire in the Pacific in the 19th century. This was driven mainly by the need for small scale farming entrepreneurs to find additional farming land for their crops. Only when local resistance or competition from other states, Spain in particular, threatened their profits did the farmers seek the active intervention of the US government. Over time this grew into a powerful lobby to support the establishment of an occupation empire.
They acknowledge the widely held view that the Spanish American War is seen as a turning point in the development of US imperialism but argue that to a large extent the Pacific Empire had already been established.
Where their argument seems to fail is their attempt to suggest that the American experience was very different from that in Europe; that the US empire was firstly established by trade and only later by state intervention. If you look at the development of the British, Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch empires a similar pattern occurs. Raleigh, Cortes and Vasco de Gama were initially explorers opening the way for traders and pirates. As they occupied land to farm or seized gold, silver and other wealth, they called upon their mother states to provide military protection for their theft.
From that perspective the authors fail in their key proposition that the US empire developed in a complete reversal of that of European states. What they do provide however, is a fascinating insight into imperial thinking across the world in the 19th century. They also examine the conflicts between those states over key raw materials as they became important to the development of trade or their military ambitions.
The expansion of US occupation and colonisation grew as its competition with European states increased. US farmers demand for fertilizers prompted the Guano Act of 1856 permitted the seizure of islands to control the guano and its trade. The Berlin Conference of 1889 granted US control over half of Samoa at the expense of Germany. What was German Samoa, is now an independent state. US Samoa, the many islands around Samoa, remains a US possession. There are many more examples showing how the US empire expanded throughout the 19th century.
A parallel thread running through the book is one of piracy and smuggling, Another is the underlying and often overt role of racism in driving, informing and delivering US policy at home and abroad. Of course in that respect it was no different to Britain and the other European colonial powers.
Trends in US foreign policy are also considered with switches between protectionism and free trade, isolationism and aggressive interventionism. These are examined in the context of wider global developments. Some accidents of history are also suggested such as the acquisition of Pearl Harbour as a US military base. This arose from competition between British and US plantation owners and was a part of a reciprocal trade agreement to boost US sugar plantation owners’ profits. It was not seen as a major strategic military facility until after the Japanese attach during WWII.
Whether you accept the key premise of the authors or not this is an interesting and informative volume. It opens up many additional avenues for consideration when assessing the realities of today’s conflicted world. It goes some way to explaining the vagaries of US international relations policy from its formation to the present.
The Price of Empire: American Entrepreneurs and the Origins of America’s First Pacific Empire. Miles M. Evers and Eric Grynaviski. Cambridge University Press. £22.99
Interested in a reviewing a book for us? Or a film, play or exhibition? Get in touch at info@liberationorg.co.uk
Author: Short bio of author should be included
The views expressed in the articles published on this website do not necessarily represent those of Liberation
Support our work – donate, become a member, affiliate your local organisation’s branch or volunteer
