America's Backyard: Difference between revisions

{{AmericanEmpire}}

 

Drawing on the use of the term [[wikt:backyard|backyard]] to refer to the surrounding area or [[neighborhood]] in which one resides, "America's backyard" has been referred to as the area within which the United States, as the "homeowner", has asserted some proprietary right or sought to limit outside influence.<ref>{{Cite journal

| doi = 10.1080/09592290008406150

 

There are differences between the terms, in that "near abroad" for Russia referred to countries which had previously been in political union with [[Russia]] until the fall of the [[Soviet Union]] (and after independence were initially part of the closely tied [[Commonwealth of Independent States]]), whereas the Central and South American countries considered part of America's backyard have never been politically tied to the United States (with the exception of [[Panama]]). In addition, "America's backyard" has been used in a domestic context to refer to [[national parks]] and other open land, whereas "near abroad" refers solely to foreign (though proximate) areas and cannot be used in a [[public land]] context.

There are other uses regarding public land and homeland security.

 

 

The idea of America's backyard - a place of security and tranquility, unlike lines of conflict elsewhere - has been used in reference to [[Middle class#Middle America|middle America]]. For example, after the [[Oklahoma City bombing]], Americans were outspoken with their shock that this attack took place in a "Middle-American" town rather than one of America's well-known political or economical cities or abroad.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Johnson|first=David|year=1995|title=Intensive International Hunt Is On, But for Whom|journal=New York Times|page=10}}</ref> Many expressed surprise that such [[terrorism]] could happen in the very center of the United States, "deep in America's heartland."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Alter|first=Jonathan|year=1995|title=Jumping to Conclusions|journal=Newsweek|page=55}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://deflem.blogspot.com/1995/05/globalization-of-heartland-terror.html|title=The Globalization Of Heartland Terror: International Dimensions Of The Oklahoma City Bombing.|author=Deflem Mathieu|date=June 1995|publisher=[[Deflem Mathieu]]|accessdate=2010-02-27}}</ref> Furthermore, "America's Backyard" has appeared interchangeably with "heartland" in the writings of a variety of journalists, authors, war veterans and bloggers.

=== Latin America as America's backyard ===

{{Main|Big Stick Policy}}

Since the establishment of the United States, [[international relations]] have been politically important in securing the nation’s developed democracy and influential power. With Latin America in closest proximity to the US, the neighboring continent has been labeled as “America’s Backyard.” In attempts to further economic development, the US government has exercised many strategies towards Latin America, especially over the past half century, including the [[Alliance for Progress]].

 

A number of European commentators have contended that US foreign policy in the Middle East has (intentionally or otherwise) had the effect of turning the Middle East into America's new "backyard": a new epicenter within which the US is trying to exhort influence on political developments through regime change and political pressure which resembles past US actions in Latin America.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=http://mondediplo.com/2007/11/03mideast| title = The United States' new backyard |accessdate=2010-02-28| author = Alain Gresh|date=2007-11-03

| publisher= [[Le Monde Diplomatique]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal| doi = 10.3917/crii.044.0165

 

[[Martin Jacques]] refers to the Middle East as being under the US 'sphere of influence'. However this is being challenged by the presence and growth of [[Iran]], Russia, and [[China]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=When china rules the world : the end of the western world and the birth of a new global order|last=Jacques, Martin.|date=2014|publisher=Penguin Books|isbn=9781101151457|oclc=883334381}}</ref> Moreover, the US efforts to expand influence into the Middle East, especially with the [[Syrian Civil War]], [[Iraq War]], and [[Afghanistan War (2001-)|Afghanistan War]], have been failing, with 'disastrous' results.<ref name=":1" />

 

=== France ===

 

== See also ==

*[[Sphere of Influence]]

*[[Monroe Doctrine]]

*[[Roosevelt Corollary]]

*[[Dollar Diplomacy]]

*[[Near abroad]]

== External links ==

* {{cite web |url=https://blogs.publico.es/dominiopublico/26389/america-latina-sigue-siendo-el-patio-trasero-de-estados-unidos/ |title=¿América Latina sigue siendo el "patio trasero" de Estados Unidos? |last=Main |first=Alexander |date=September 16, 2018 |work=Público |publisher= |location= |language=Spanish }}

 

{{DEFAULTSORT:America's Backyard}}

[[Category:United States–Caribbean relations]]

[[Category:Geopolitical rivalry]]

[[Category:Hegemony]]

[[Category:History of the foreign relations of the United States]]