Omar Bennett
Missionary diplomacy and moral diplomacy are both terms used to describe the foreign policy approach of US President Woodrow Wilson. This approach centred on the idea that the US had a moral responsibility to spread democracy and promote democratic values worldwide. Moral diplomacy was a shift from traditional power politics, with Wilson believing that nations, like individuals, should adhere to high ethical and moral standards. This policy was particularly applied to Latin America, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, where Wilson frequently intervened in the affairs of other countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Policy of US President Woodrow Wilson | Missionary Diplomacy |
| Expansion of President James Monroe's 1823 Monroe Doctrine | Moral Diplomacy |
| Applied to policies and practices of the US in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and China | Missionary Diplomacy |
| Driven by the belief that the US had a moral responsibility to spread democracy and uphold high ethical and moral standards | Missionary Diplomacy |
| Response to imperialism and dollar diplomacy | Moral Diplomacy |
| Emphasized economic power over economic support | Moral Diplomacy |
| Based on the principle of self-determination and the moral right of people to choose their government | Moral Diplomacy |
| Sought to promote democracy, uphold human rights, and advance ethical principles in international relations | Moral Diplomacy |
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What You'll Learn
Wilson's ethical and religious beliefs
Woodrow Wilson's ethical and religious beliefs were deeply intertwined with his foreign policy as president. Wilson believed that nations, just like individuals, should uphold high ethical and moral standards. He saw democracy as the most Christian form of government, suitable for all peoples. This belief guided his foreign policy, as he felt that the democratic United States had a moral mandate for world leadership.
Wilson's concept of "moral diplomacy" aimed to curb the growth of imperialism and spread democracy, particularly in Latin America. He frequently intervened in the affairs of other countries, stating in 1913, "I am going to teach the South American republics to elect good men". For example, in Mexico, Wilson refused to recognize Victoriano Huerta's government in 1913 because he had illegally seized power, despite pressure from Americans with economic interests in the country and many foreign powers.
Wilson's religious beliefs were also a significant influence on his ethical and political views. He was a devout Christian and a regular churchgoer, even when travelling or under pressure. Wilson read the Bible daily, meditated on its teachings, and sought to apply them in his life. He believed that the Bible was revealed to its writers through a mysterious illumination or indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Wilson's Scottish ancestors emphasized the Old Testament and its belief in a just God who avenges those who disobey His commandments.
Wilson's Christian faith provided him with a sense of moral guidance and comfort. He once said, "If I were not a Christian, I think I should go mad, but my faith in God holds me to the belief that he is, in some way, working out his own plans through human perversities and mistakes." Wilson's mind was described as "sturdily and mystically Christian," reflecting a blend of rationality and mysticism in his religious outlook.
Overall, Wilson's ethical and religious beliefs were deeply intertwined and had a significant influence on his foreign policy as president, shaping his approach to diplomacy and his understanding of America's role in the world.
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Democracy as a moral mandate for world leadership
Democracy is a system of governance that is regarded as being morally superior to other political systems. It is based on the principles of liberty, equality, and individualism. The United States, for example, has long considered itself an exception and believed in its mission to spread democracy and liberty worldwide. This belief, known as American exceptionalism, has influenced US foreign policy and led to the concept of "moral diplomacy" or "missionary diplomacy".
The idea of democracy as a moral mandate for world leadership is not a new concept. Many theorists have argued that democracy is the most morally desirable form of governance. Normative democratic theory, for instance, focuses on the moral foundations of democracy and the moral duties of democratic representatives and citizens. It aims to provide guidance on when and why democracy is morally preferable, as well as moral principles for the design of democratic institutions and the behaviour of citizens and their representatives.
One of the key proponents of democracy as a moral mandate for world leadership was US President Woodrow Wilson. Wilson's ethical and religious beliefs profoundly influenced his foreign policy. He believed that nations, like individuals, should uphold high ethical and moral standards, and that democracy was the most Christian form of government, suitable for all peoples. This belief led to his policy of "missionary diplomacy", which was particularly directed at Latin America. Wilson argued that the democratic United States had a moral mandate for world leadership and saw the League of Nations as a tool to spread democracy internationally.
Wilson's administration frequently intervened in the affairs of other countries, especially in Latin America, to promote democracy and curb the growth of imperialism. He refused to recognise the government of Victoriano Huerta in Mexico, for example, because he had seized power illegally. Wilson also used American troops to force the Haitian legislature to choose the candidate he selected as Haitian President. While Wilson's ideas about democracy and morality were admirable, his implementation of missionary diplomacy was largely seen as a failure and has been criticised as being economically motivated.
In conclusion, democracy has often been viewed as a moral mandate for world leadership, with the United States, in particular, embracing this idea through its foreign policy practices. While democratic leadership can have benefits such as increased group morale and creativity, it is important to carefully consider the context and potential consequences of its implementation, as seen in the case of Wilson's missionary diplomacy.
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The failure of missionary diplomacy
Missionary diplomacy was a policy of US President Woodrow Wilson that Washington had a moral responsibility to deny diplomatic recognition to any Latin American government that was not democratic. It was an expansion of President James Monroe's 1823 Monroe Doctrine. The term "missionary diplomacy" is often applied to the policies and practices of the United States in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean during Wilson's presidency.
Wilson's ethical and religious beliefs greatly influenced his foreign policy as president. He believed that nations, like individuals, should adhere to high ethical and moral standards. Democracy, in Wilson's view, was the most Christian form of government, suitable for all peoples. Thus, the democratic United States had a moral mandate for world leadership.
However, despite Wilson's admirable ideas and objectives, missionary diplomacy was a failure. It led to permanent hostility between the United States and Latin America, especially in Mexico, Nicaragua, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, which experienced Wilsonian interventionism in its most virulent forms. For instance, in Nicaragua, Wilson inherited a military intervention and an extensive effort at dollar diplomacy from the Taft administration. When his successor, Adolfo Diaz, faced a revolt in 1912, Wilson sent in US marines. The US Senate rejected the plan, but a new treaty signed in 1913 gave the United States an option on a canal route and naval base rights.
In Haiti, American troops, under the command of the federal government, forced the Haitian legislature to choose the candidate Wilson selected as Haitian President. Wilson also refused to recognize Victoriano Huerta, who had gained control of Mexico in 1913, because he had illegally seized power. This created conditions for some Americans to embrace a vision of their country as an internationally engaged world power.
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Moral diplomacy in Latin America
Woodrow Wilson's moral diplomacy in Latin America was driven by his belief in American exceptionalism and the idea that the United States had a moral responsibility to spread democracy and liberty worldwide. This policy was a shift from the previous dollar diplomacy of William Howard Taft, which focused on economic support to improve bilateral ties. Wilson's approach, on the other hand, was based on economic power and the belief that nations should adhere to high ethical and moral standards.
In Latin America, Wilson frequently intervened in the internal affairs of various countries, including Mexico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Panama, and Nicaragua. He justified these interventions under the principles of moral diplomacy, aiming to curb the growth of imperialism and promote democracy. For example, in Mexico, Wilson refused to recognize Victoriano Huerta as the country's leader in 1913 because he had illegally seized power, despite pressure from American business interests and most foreign powers. Wilson's actions in Mexico also included sending US troops in pursuit of Pancho Villa, which led to a confrontation with Carranza's forces.
In Haiti, Wilson enacted an armed occupation from 1915 to 1934, citing the need to restore order after a series of revolutions. However, this intervention was also driven by the threat that high levels of European investment in Haiti posed to American hegemony in the Caribbean. American troops forced the Haitian legislature to choose Wilson's selected candidate as the Haitian president. Similarly, in the Dominican Republic, Wilson intervened in 1916, citing political and fiscal unrest, and oversaw elections while maintaining a military presence until 1924.
Wilson's moral diplomacy in Cuba centered around justifying the American occupation by bringing peace to the country amidst political turmoil. However, it primarily served to protect American economic interests, particularly sugar plantations monopolized by US companies. In Nicaragua, Wilson maintained US troops throughout his administration and used them to influence the selection of the country's president.
Overall, Wilson's moral diplomacy in Latin America was characterized by aggressive interventions and the use of military, economic, and political pressure to spread democracy and protect American hegemony in the region. While Wilson's stated goals were noble, his actions often contradicted his ideals, and his diplomacy was influenced by his personal racist views and the economic interests of the United States.
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The legacy of moral and missionary diplomacy
Wilson's moral and missionary diplomacy was driven by his ethical and religious beliefs. He argued that nations, like individuals, should uphold high moral standards, and that democracy was the most Christian form of government, suitable for all peoples. This belief in American exceptionalism—the idea that the United States has a unique mission to spread liberty and democracy—guided his foreign policy decisions.
In practice, Wilson's diplomacy often took the form of interventions in Latin America, including Mexico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Panama. He also maintained troops in Nicaragua and used them to influence the country's leadership. Wilson's policies were an expansion of the Monroe Doctrine, asserting that the United States had a moral responsibility to deny recognition to non-democratic governments in Latin America. This approach was a departure from the previous "dollar diplomacy," which prioritised economic support to improve bilateral ties.
The legacy of Wilson's moral and missionary diplomacy is contested. Some historians argue that it failed to achieve its objectives and created a legacy of ill will in the regions where it was applied, particularly in Mexico and Nicaragua. Jules R. Benjamin, for example, notes that Wilson's interventions in Latin America often included military force and the promotion of US economic interests, despite his claims to the contrary. Arthur S. Link is also critical of Wilson's policies, arguing that they were a disaster.
On the other hand, historians like John Milton Cooper Jr. take a more favourable view of Wilson's diplomacy in Latin America, especially in Mexico. Wilson's idealistic goals of spreading democracy and improving the well-being of other countries may have influenced how his presidency is viewed, with some historians ranking him highly despite the failures of his policies.
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Frequently asked questions
Moral diplomacy is a type of statesmanship coined by Woodrow Wilson, which centres US foreign relations around the concept of morality, specifically the values of democracy and national self-determination.
Missionary diplomacy is a descriptive label applied to the policies and practices of the United States in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean during the presidency of Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921). It refers to the idea that the US had a moral responsibility to deny diplomatic recognition to any Latin American government that was not democratic.
No, they are not the same. While both concepts are centred around the idea of spreading democracy, missionary diplomacy is a specific type of moral diplomacy that was applied to Latin America.
Moral diplomacy had a significant impact on US foreign policy, shifting its focus from imperialist interests to moral values. It also influenced the creation of international political conglomerates, such as the United Nations, and cemented the US as a global actor in international affairs.
Despite Wilson's admirable ideas and objectives, missionary diplomacy has been criticised as a disaster. Historians have argued that it failed to achieve its goals and was economically motivated rather than solely driven by moral ideals.
