Simone Lawson
Big stick diplomacy, big stick ideology, big stick philosophy, or big stick policy refers to a political approach used by the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The term is derived from the phrase speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far, which Roosevelt claimed was a West African proverb. Big stick diplomacy involves negotiating peacefully while also having the strength of the military as a backup in case things go wrong. This approach ties in heavily with the idea of Realpolitik, which implies a pursuit of political power. While some believe that big stick diplomacy is an effective way to get what you want in negotiations, others argue that it is important to also speak softly and be respectful towards other nations to avoid war.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Originator | Theodore Roosevelt |
| Origin | Derived from the proverb "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far" |
| Definition | Negotiating peacefully but also having strength in case things go wrong |
| Application | Used by the U.S. during "Canal Diplomacy" in Nicaragua and Panama |
| Application | Used by the U.S. to enforce the Monroe Doctrine in Latin America |
| Application | Used by the U.S. to justify intervention in Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic |
| Application | Used by the U.S. to develop strategies to contain China and prevent it from taking military steps to annex Taiwan and enforce its claims in Asia and the Pacific |
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What You'll Learn
The policy of the big stick
The "Big Stick" ideology, also known as "Big Stick diplomacy", "Big Stick philosophy", or "Big Stick policy", was a political approach used by the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The term is derived from the phrase, "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far", which Roosevelt claimed was a West African proverb, although there is little evidence for that.
The "Big Stick" ideology involves negotiating peacefully but also having strength in case things go wrong. This ties in with the idea of Realpolitik, which implies a pursuit of political power that resembles Machiavellian ideals. Roosevelt described his style of foreign policy as "the exercise of intelligent forethought and of decisive action sufficiently far in advance of any likely crisis".
As practiced by Roosevelt, the "Big Stick" policy had five components. Firstly, it was essential to possess serious military capability that would force the adversary to pay close attention. This meant having a world-class navy, as Roosevelt never had a large army at his disposal until the 1900s. Secondly, the "Big Stick" policy was used by the US during "Canal Diplomacy", the diplomatic actions of the US during the pursuit of a canal across Central America. In 1901, Secretary of State John Hay pressed the Nicaraguan Government for approval of a canal. The US accepted the deal, but after Congress approved the contract, a problem of court jurisdiction came up. Thirdly, the "Big Stick" policy was used to enforce the Monroe Doctrine throughout multiple interventions in Latin America. This included the Great White Fleet, 16 battleships that peacefully circumnavigated the globe as an illustration of the United States's rising yet neutral prestige under Roosevelt's direction. Fourthly, the Roosevelt Corollary of December 1904 stated that the United States would intervene as a last resort to ensure that other nations in the Western Hemisphere fulfilled their obligations to international creditors and did not violate the rights of the United States. Over the long term, the corollary served as justification for US intervention in Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. Finally, the "Big Stick" policy was also used by Roosevelt to explain his relations with domestic political leaders and his approach to such issues as the regulation of monopolies and the demands of trade unions.
In recent times, the "Big Stick" ideology has been used to describe the need for the United States to "speak softly" and carry a "big stick" in its relations with China. This involves the United States creating effective military and civil strategies to deter China from taking military steps to annex Taiwan and enforce its claims in Asia and the Pacific.
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Theodore Roosevelt's foreign policy
One of Roosevelt's key foreign policy initiatives was the construction of the Panama Canal, which had been a long-held dream of American naval leaders. In 1901, the United States negotiated with Britain for the support of an American-controlled canal, to be constructed either in Nicaragua or Panama, which was then owned by Colombia. When negotiations with Colombia broke down, Roosevelt quietly supported a Panamanian revolution, and the independent country of Panama emerged from Colombian control in 1903. The Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty with Panama gave the United States perpetual control of the canal for a price of $10 million and an annual payment of $250,000.
Roosevelt also focused on Central America and Latin America more broadly, where he sought to continue the expansion of American influence. He sent the Great White Fleet, 16 battleships, on a world tour to project American naval power. He also promulgated the Roosevelt Corollary, which held that the United States would intervene in the finances of unstable Caribbean and Central American countries to forestall direct European intervention. This policy eventually created much resentment in Latin America.
Roosevelt was also concerned with maintaining friendly relations with Japan. He did not want to anger Japan by passing legislation to bar Japanese immigration to the United States, as had been done with Chinese immigration. Instead, an informal "Gentlemen's Agreement of 1907" was reached, in which Japan agreed to stop the emigration of Japanese labourers to the United States and Hawaii, and to avoid segregation in California. Roosevelt also supported Japan when it went to war with Russia over control of Manchuria and Korea in 1905, agreeing to Japanese annexation of Korea in return for Japan keeping its hands off China, Hawaii, and the Philippines.
Roosevelt's other foreign policy actions included brokering peace between France and Germany when they were in conflict over control of Morocco, which many believe delayed the start of World War I by a decade. He also presided over a rapprochement with Great Britain and continued the expansion of American influence in the Pacific, including in the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam, which had been ceded to the United States by Spain after the Spanish-American War in 1898.
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Canal diplomacy
The term "big stick diplomacy" refers to a political approach or foreign policy style used by the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The phrase "speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far" is often attributed to Roosevelt, who used it to describe his style of diplomacy. This approach involves negotiating peacefully while also demonstrating strength and being prepared to use the military if necessary.
Now, let's turn our attention to "canal diplomacy," a term that refers to the diplomatic actions and strategies employed by the United States during its pursuit of constructing a canal across Central America, specifically in Nicaragua and Panama. Here are four to six paragraphs elaborating on the concept of "canal diplomacy":
The Panama Canal, completed by the United States in 1914, connects two continents and divides two oceans, solving a significant transportation problem. However, it also created new challenges, some of which remain unresolved. The canal's strategic importance has made it a focal point of diplomatic tensions and negotiations between the United States and Panama, with the latter seeking greater control over the canal.
In the 1970s, the Ford administration faced pressure to renegotiate the terms of the Panama Canal Treaty, which granted the United States sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the Canal Zone. The United States agreed to relinquish control of the canal to Panama over time, but this decision sparked controversy within the United States, as many Americans were reluctant to give up their country's long-held rights to the canal.
Panama's management of the canal has also raised concerns about foreign influence, particularly China's involvement in Canal port operations. The United States has employed coercive diplomacy, including threats of reclaiming the canal, to counter Chinese influence in the region. This approach has had some success, with Panama withdrawing from China's Belt and Road Initiative and granting concessions to the U.S. Navy.
However, critics argue that such aggressive posturing by the United States could have serious consequences and that a more innovative strategy involving genuine diplomacy and respect for Panama's sovereignty is needed. Maintaining strong U.S.-Panama relations is crucial, and finding a balance between protecting national interests and respecting the sovereignty of allies is essential.
In conclusion, "canal diplomacy" refers to the complex diplomatic maneuvers and negotiations surrounding the Panama Canal, a crucial global trade route. The United States' historical involvement in the canal and its strategic importance continue to shape relations between the United States and Panama, with implications for their respective relations with other powers such as China.
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The Monroe Doctrine
While the Monroe Doctrine was intended to keep European powers out of the Western Hemisphere, President Theodore Roosevelt expanded its interpretation through his Roosevelt Corollary, proclaiming the right of the United States to exercise "international police power" to curb "chronic wrongdoing" in the region. This led to US military interventions in Santo Domingo in 1904, Nicaragua in 1911, and Haiti in 1915, which strained relations with other Latin American nations.
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Realpolitik
Big stick diplomacy is closely associated with the foreign policy of President Theodore Roosevelt, who described his style as "the exercise of intelligent forethought and of decisive action sufficiently far in advance of any likely crisis".
The approach is often summed up in the phrase "speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far", which Roosevelt claimed was a West African proverb, although there is little evidence for that. The "big stick" refers to the use of military might, while "speaking softly" refers to negotiation and diplomacy. This policy is also known as gunboat diplomacy.
Roosevelt's big stick diplomacy had five components. Firstly, it was essential to possess serious military capability that would force the adversary to pay close attention. Secondly, it was important to act justly toward other nations. Thirdly, never to bluff. Fourth, to strike only when prepared to strike hard. And finally, to be willing to allow the adversary to save face in defeat. The idea is to negotiate peacefully but also have strength in case things go wrong.
This approach ties in heavily with the idea of Realpolitik, which implies a pursuit of political power that resembles Machiavellian ideals. In this context, it refers to the use of coercive power by the United States to achieve its foreign policy goals, with a thinly veiled threat of force. Roosevelt believed that the Western Hemisphere's best interests were also the best interests of the United States, and that the US had the right and obligation to be the policeman of the hemisphere.
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Frequently asked questions
Big stick diplomacy, or big stick ideology, is a political approach used by the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The term comes from the phrase, "speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far", which Roosevelt claimed was a West African proverb. The approach involves negotiating peacefully while also having the strength to take action if needed.
Roosevelt used the military to enforce the Monroe Doctrine during multiple interventions in Latin America. For example, the Great White Fleet of 16 battleships peacefully circumnavigated the globe as a demonstration of US power. He also used big stick diplomacy in "Canal Diplomacy", to pursue the construction of a canal across Central America, and to police small debtor nations with unstable governments.
Big stick diplomacy was successful in some instances, such as in the case of "Canal Diplomacy", where the US was able to secure a deal with Nicaragua for the construction of a canal. However, the deal was later complicated by issues of court jurisdiction. Big stick diplomacy also served as justification for US intervention in Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
If a nation speaks softly without carrying a big stick, it may be bullied or taken advantage of. On the other hand, if a nation carries a big stick but does not speak softly, it may find itself in a state of war. Therefore, the success of big stick diplomacy lies in finding a balance between speaking softly and carrying a big stick.
The concept of big stick diplomacy is still relevant in modern-day foreign policy, such as in the case of the United States' relations with China. The US seeks to develop an integrated civil and military strategy to contain China's military power and prevent it from taking aggressive actions. At the same time, the US needs to "speak softly" by recognizing China's sensitivity to its history of war and foreign occupation.
