Missionary Diplomacy: Unraveling The Author's Intent And Impact

Missionary diplomacy is a term used to describe the policies and practices of the United States in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and China during the presidency of Woodrow Wilson. Wilson's policy was an expansion of President James Monroe's Monroe Doctrine and was driven by the belief that Washington had a moral responsibility to deny diplomatic recognition to any Latin American government that was not democratic. The term has also been used to describe the entanglement of American Protestant missions with diplomatic institutions in the 19th century, particularly in Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific Islands.

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The relationship between US Protestant missions and US foreign affairs

American Protestant missionaries played a particularly influential role in Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific Islands—regions that were of religious interest before becoming strategic priorities for the US government. Once established in these areas, missionaries demanded support and protection from the government, further entangling the two entities. The missionaries served as consuls, translators, and secretaries, often filling knowledge gaps for the US government in these regions. For example, Peter Parker, a missionary diplomat in China, combined evangelistic and medical work with translation and secretarial roles, including translating during the 1844 negotiations over the Treaty of Wanghia.

The work of these missionaries had a profound impact on US foreign relations. Their definitions of civilisation, morality, good government, and humanitarianism influenced treaties and diplomatic negotiations. They also shaped domestic conversations within the US government on issues such as citizenship, the duties of the government to its citizens abroad, and the definition of religious freedom.

The book "Missionary Diplomacy: Religion and Nineteenth-Century American Foreign Relations" by Emily Conroy-Krutz, an associate professor of history at Michigan State University, provides valuable insights into this dynamic. The book traces the development of American Protestant missions and diplomatic institutions during the 19th century, highlighting the interplay between the two. It argues that missionary diplomacy was essential to the formation of the United States' global strategic interests and explores the benefits and challenges faced by missionaries serving abroad under the protection of the US government.

In conclusion, the relationship between US Protestant missions and US foreign affairs has been characterised by a complex interplay of religious, diplomatic, and strategic interests. The influence of missionaries on US foreign policy and the entanglement of their work with diplomatic efforts have had lasting impacts on how the US engages with the world. This history continues to shape ongoing conversations about the role of religion in American foreign relations and the legacy of missionary work in the modern era.

The influence of evangelical missions on American foreign relations

In her book, *Missionary Diplomacy: Religion and Nineteenth-Century American Foreign Relations*, Emily Conroy-Krutz examines the influence of evangelical missions on American foreign relations in the 19th century. The book specifically looks at the interplay between missionaries and the development of the US State Department from the early 1800s to World War I. It traces the shared growth and expansion of American Protestant missions and American diplomatic institutions, highlighting their entanglement and influence on each other.

During the 19th century, American Protestant missionaries played a significant role in shaping the country's foreign relations, particularly in Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific Islands. These regions became areas of interest for missionaries before they became a major focus for the US government. As missionaries established new mission fields, they demanded government support and protection, serving as consuls, translators, and secretaries for the American government. Their firsthand knowledge of these regions and their language skills made them invaluable to the government as it defined its early relationships with foreign powers.

The book also explores the complex relationship between American foreign missionaries and the State Department during this period. It highlights how missionaries and missionary boards could influence the State Department's actions, with public sentiment sometimes pushing the diplomatic apparatus to work on behalf of missionaries. This influence extended to shaping conversations within the US government on issues such as the meaning of citizenship, the duties of the government to its citizens abroad, and the definition of religious freedom.

Conroy-Krutz's work provides valuable insights into the religious history of American foreign policy and the rise of American imperialism. It demonstrates that the long history of missionary entanglement with US diplomacy has resulted in a Protestant worldview being embedded in American foreign policy, with missionary definitions of civilization, morality, good government, and humanitarianism influencing treaties and diplomatic negotiations. This influence continued even as questions arose about the effectiveness and ethics of missionary work in the early 20th century, with Harvard's William Ernest Hocking recommending that missionaries serve more as ambassadors between cultures rather than focusing on proselytizing.

The role of missionary intelligence in shaping American world views

The concept of "missionary diplomacy" is often applied to the policies and practices of the United States in Latin America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and China during the presidency of Woodrow Wilson. It refers to the belief that the US had a moral responsibility to promote democracy and its definition of religious freedom worldwide.

Missionary diplomacy has played a significant role in shaping American worldviews, particularly in the nineteenth century. During this period, the United States was debating its influence and role in the world. The work of missionaries, their entanglement with the State Department, and their interactions with foreign cultures contributed to the development of American foreign relations and diplomacy.

The book *Missionary Diplomacy: Religion and Nineteenth-Century American Foreign Relations*, by Emily Conroy-Krutz, provides valuable insights into this topic. Conroy-Krutz examines the complex relationship between American Protestant missionaries and the US government, including the State Department, from the early 1800s to the early 1900s. She highlights how "missionary intelligence" brought Americans to the world and the world to Americans during this time.

Conroy-Krutz's work demonstrates that the activities of missionaries were integral to the expansion of US diplomacy beyond Europe and Latin America. The book explores how missionaries' definitions of civilization, morality, good government, and humanitarianism influenced treaties and diplomatic negotiations. It also addresses issues such as the nature of US citizenship and the concerns of missionaries about their status as citizens while living abroad.

Through her research, Conroy-Krutz sheds light on the longstanding influence of evangelical missions on American foreign relations. By the time the US entered World War I, missionary diplomacy had contributed to a vision of the country as an internationally engaged world power. However, the disappointing conversion rates and the introspection following World War I's intra-Christian conflict led to questions about the superiority of Western and Christian societies.

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The impact of missionaries on the development of the US State Department

In the 19th century, American citizens started travelling around the world as Christian missionaries. At this time, the US government viewed missionaries as experts on the politics, culture, and language of regions like China and the Sandwich Islands. As the US State Department expanded its global presence, it became more concerned about the difficulties that missionaries faced.

Missionaries created what they called "missionary intelligence", which was a collection of documents that informed Americans about the world. These documents contributed to the expansion of the US's global presence, which grew significantly by the end of World War I.

The term "missionary diplomacy" is often used to describe the policies and practices of the United States in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and China during Woodrow Wilson's presidency (1913-1921). Wilson believed that Washington had a moral responsibility to refuse diplomatic recognition of any non-democratic Latin American government. This policy was an expansion of President James Monroe's Monroe Doctrine from 1823.

Missionary diplomacy has resulted in a Protestant worldview influencing American foreign policy. Protestant missionaries' definitions of civilisation, morality, good government, and humanitarianism made their way into treaties and diplomatic negotiations for generations. This impact on policy can be seen in the work of missionary diplomats like Peter Parker, who combined his evangelistic and medical work with translation and secretarial roles for the US in China.

The entanglement of missionary work with US diplomacy in China and Latin America

The term "missionary diplomacy" is often used to describe the policies and practices of the United States in Latin America and China during the presidency of Woodrow Wilson from 1913 to 1921. Wilson's concept of missionary diplomacy was closely tied to his ideas of morality and democratic government, which he believed should be promoted in other countries. This policy was an expansion of President James Monroe's 1823 Monroe Doctrine.

In Latin America, Wilson's missionary diplomacy took the form of a policy of refusing diplomatic recognition to any non-democratic Latin American government. This policy was based on the belief that the democratic United States had a moral mandate for world leadership and that democracy was the most Christian form of government, suitable for all peoples. Wilson's administration also saw increased economic engagement with Latin America, with a focus on free competition and the rejection of "dollar diplomacy," where foreign policy is influenced by business interests.

In China, the history of missionary diplomacy is older, dating back to the 16th century when European Catholics first attempted to convert the Chinese to Christianity as part of the Catholic Counter Reformation. Jesuits like Matteo Ricci not only converted many people to Christianity but also gained the respect of influential Chinese figures and even some emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. However, a rival monastic order gained the Pope's support in condemning the Jesuits' accommodations of Chinese traditions, leading to the Rites Controversy in the early 18th century. This resulted in the banning of Christian preaching in China and a decline in Catholic influence. In the 19th century, American Protestant missions became more prominent in China, with missionaries such as Issachar Jacox Roberts playing a role during the Taiping Rebellion.

Today, China continues to engage diplomatically with Latin America, with state visits, economic investments, and infrastructure projects, as seen in countries like Panama and El Salvador. The increasing engagement between China and Latin America has led to a struggle for diplomatic recognition between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China, with several Latin American countries switching recognition from Taiwan to China in recent years.

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