Eleanor Finch
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 originates from Roosevelt's famous saying, Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far, which he claimed was a West African proverb. Big stick diplomacy emphasizes the importance of diplomacy, negotiation, the use of military power as deterrence, and the projection of power. Roosevelt used military muscle several times throughout his two terms to complement his diplomatic policies and enforce the Monroe Doctrine during interventions in Latin America. One of the most notable applications of big stick diplomacy was the construction of the Panama Canal, which secured critical trade routes and enhanced America's geopolitical significance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Negotiation and diplomacy | The primary means to protect national interests and resolve conflicts |
| Military power | A last resort if negotiation fails |
| Deterrence | Discourages potential threats |
| Projection of power | Used to safeguard national interests |
| Military modernization | Building a strong military power |
| Military interventionism | Using military power to support diplomatic efforts |
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What You'll Learn
Theodore Roosevelt's foreign policy approach
Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, is known for popularizing the "Big Stick" approach to foreign policy. This policy, also known as "big stick diplomacy" or "big stick ideology", was characterized by Roosevelt's famous saying, "speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far."
The "big stick" phrase refers to military strength, while "speak softly" emphasizes the importance of peaceful negotiation and diplomacy. Roosevelt believed that diplomatic and peaceful negotiation should be the primary means to protect national interests and resolve conflicts. He maintained that military force should only be used as a last resort if negotiations failed. This approach, combining diplomacy and the threat of military power, is comparable to gunboat diplomacy and the idea of Realpolitik, resembling Machiavellian ideals.
Roosevelt's "big stick" policy had five components. Firstly, it emphasized the need for a strong military capability that would force adversaries to pay attention. During his time, this meant building a world-class navy, as he never had a large army at his disposal until the 1900s. The "Great White Fleet," consisting of 16 battleships, was sent on a peaceful global circumnavigation to showcase American military might and technological advancement.
Secondly, the policy involved using military power to support diplomatic efforts and deter potential threats to American interests. For example, Roosevelt utilized the military to enforce the Monroe Doctrine in Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly in Venezuela, where European powers had complained about "acts of violence against their citizens" and the failure to repay debts.
Thirdly, the "big stick" approach was employed to project American power globally and ensure its influence. One notable application was the construction of the Panama Canal, where the United States supported Panama's independence from Colombia in 1903, securing a critical trade route and enhancing the country's geopolitical significance.
Finally, Roosevelt's foreign policy approach included mediation, peacekeeping, negotiating treaties, and promoting trade. He was also mindful of respecting other nations and refraining from wronging them, as he believed that a failure to "speak softly" would eventually lead to war.
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Military power as deterrence
The "big stick" in Roosevelt's foreign policy approach refers to military strength. The idea is to negotiate peacefully, but also have the strength to fall back on should things go wrong. This ties in with the concept of Realpolitik, which implies a pursuit of political power. Roosevelt himself described his style of foreign policy as "the exercise of intelligent forethought and of decisive action sufficiently far in advance of any likely crisis".
Roosevelt's belief in the importance of diplomacy and peaceful negotiation is reflected in his famous saying, "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far", which he attributed to a West African proverb. The "big stick" in this saying refers to military power, which Roosevelt believed should only be used if negotiation failed to resolve a conflict.
The principle of deterrence is key to Roosevelt's big stick diplomacy. This means that visibly showing off military power can discourage potential threats before they arise. Indeed, Roosevelt used military muscle several times throughout his two terms to complement his diplomatic policies. For example, he sent a fleet of 16 battleships on a world tour from 1907 to 1909 to project the growing military capability of America and to reinforce diplomatic relations. This reflected Roosevelt's use of military power to support his diplomatic efforts and deter any potential threats to American interests.
Roosevelt also used his "big stick" to police small debtor nations in Latin America and the Caribbean that had unstable governments. Venezuela, for instance, was receiving complaints from Britain and Germany about "acts of violence against the liberty of British subjects and the massive capture of British vessels", as well as its lack of initiative to pay off long-standing debts. In such cases, Roosevelt used the threat of military intervention to deter these nations from violating the Monroe Doctrine and to ensure they paid their bills so that the US might avoid going to war with a European creditor nation.
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Projection of power
Big Stick Diplomacy, also known as Big Stick Ideology or Big Stick Philosophy, was a political approach used by the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The term originates from Roosevelt's famous saying, "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far", which he attributed to a West African proverb.
The "big stick" refers to military strength, while "speaking softly" emphasizes the importance of peaceful negotiation and diplomacy. Roosevelt believed that diplomatic and peaceful negotiation should be the primary means to protect national interests and resolve conflicts. He maintained that military force should only be employed if negotiation failed to resolve the conflict.
The projection of power is a key aspect of Big Stick Diplomacy. The policy asserts that visibly demonstrating military power can deter potential threats before they arise. Roosevelt's approach to foreign policy was characterized by the press as aggressive, with his strong military policies bullying smaller nations into conforming to US desires. One notable example of this is the construction of the Panama Canal. The United States, under Roosevelt's leadership, supported Panama's independence from Colombia in 1903, securing the construction of the Panama Canal. This project showcased American power and influence, opening critical trade routes and enhancing the country's geopolitical significance.
Another illustration of Roosevelt's projection of power is the deployment of the Great White Fleet, also known as the "big stick" fleet. This fleet of 16 battleships peacefully circumnavigated the globe from 1907 to 1909, projecting the growing military capability of the United States and reinforcing its diplomatic relations. Roosevelt's use of military power complemented his diplomatic policies, particularly in Latin America, where he enforced the Monroe Doctrine and intervened in multiple affairs.
The principles of Big Stick Diplomacy have had a lasting impact on US foreign policies, influencing military modernization, interventionism, and the projection of power to safeguard national interests. The focus on building a strong military and maintaining its presence to assert influence continues to shape global power strategies in the contemporary era.
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Influence in Latin America and the Caribbean
Big stick diplomacy, or big stick ideology, was a political approach used by the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The term "big stick" is derived from an aphorism often used by Roosevelt: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far". This reflected the idea of negotiating peacefully while threatening with the 'big stick' of military force if necessary.
Big stick diplomacy had a significant influence in Latin America and the Caribbean during the early 20th century. The policy was rooted in Roosevelt's belief that a strong military presence could deter potential threats and promote American interests abroad. This approach led to increased US involvement in various Latin American nations, often under the guise of maintaining order and stability.
One example of big stick diplomacy in the region was the construction of the Panama Canal. The US used its military might to support Panama's independence from Colombia, ensuring American control over the canal. Roosevelt also sent the "Great White Fleet", 16 battleships that peacefully circumnavigated the globe, as a display of American naval power and a message to small nations in the Western Hemisphere that they should pay their debts to avoid conflicts with European creditor nations.
Another instance of big stick diplomacy in Latin America was the Venezuela crisis of 1902-1903. Venezuela had incurred debts to Britain, Germany, and other European countries that it was unable to pay. Roosevelt, concerned about the potential violation of the Monroe Doctrine and seeking to promote American economic interests, intervened in the crisis. He used the threat of military force to pressure Venezuela into agreeing to a deal that allowed foreign powers to collect debts and assert control over its customs houses.
The implications of big stick diplomacy in Latin America and the Caribbean included increased tensions with the countries in the region, who often viewed US actions as imperialistic rather than protective. Roosevelt's policies fostered resentment towards the US and significantly altered regional politics in Latin America.
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Panama Canal construction
Big stick diplomacy, big stick ideology, big stick philosophy, or big stick policy refers to a political approach used by Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States. The term is derived from Roosevelt's self-proclaimed favourite proverb: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far". This meant negotiating peacefully but also having the military strength to back up those negotiations if required.
Roosevelt used his military muscle several times throughout his presidency to enforce the Monroe Doctrine during interventions in Latin America. This included sending 16 battleships, known as the Great White Fleet, to peacefully circumnavigate the globe as a demonstration of the United States' rising yet neutral prestige.
One of Roosevelt's foreign policy achievements was the construction of the Panama Canal. Throughout the 1800s, American and British leaders and businessmen wanted to ship goods quickly and cheaply between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. In 1850, the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty was negotiated between the US and Britain to plan a canal through the Central American Republic of Nicaragua, but this never progressed beyond the planning stages.
In 1881, the French began excavating a canal through Panama, which was then a province of Colombia. However, the project was beset by engineering problems, tropical diseases, and a high worker mortality rate, and it was eventually abandoned in 1889. The US took over the project in 1904, and the Panama Canal was opened in 1914. The canal uses a system of locks to raise ships from sea level to the level of Gatun Lake, which is 26 meters above sea level. The canal is approximately 80 kilometers long and links North and South America. It is now managed and operated by the Panamanian government-owned Panama Canal Authority.
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Frequently asked questions
The 'big stick' refers to military strength.
The term was popularised by Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, who described his approach to foreign policy as "speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far".
Roosevelt used the military to complement his diplomatic policies, such as by sending 16 battleships on a world tour to project the growing military capability of the US and reinforce diplomatic relations.
