Isabella Carter
Big stick diplomacy refers to a political approach used by the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, which involves negotiating peacefully while also having the strength (or big stick) to take action if needed. The term comes from Roosevelt's frequent use of the phrase speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far, which he claimed was a West African proverb. Roosevelt's foreign policy had five components: possessing serious military capability, acting justly towards other nations, never bluffing, striking only when prepared to strike hard, and allowing the adversary to save face in defeat. This approach was used to police small debtor nations with unstable governments in Latin America and the Caribbean, and to enforce the Monroe Doctrine through interventions in Latin America.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Negotiating peacefully but also having strength in case things go wrong | The idea of Realpolitik, which implies a pursuit of political power that resembles Machiavellian ideals |
| Military muscle to complement diplomatic policies | The Great White Fleet, 16 battleships that peacefully circumnavigated the globe |
| Possess serious military capability that will force the adversary to pay close attention | A world-class navy |
| The belief in the inevitable conflict between the "civilized" and "barbarian" peoples of the world | The United States was a great civilizing power and therefore had an obligation and right to bring order to the world |
| The United States had the right to preemptive action through intervention in any Latin American nation | To correct administrative and fiscal deficiencies |
| The "big stick" during "Canal Diplomacy", the diplomatic actions of the U.S. during the pursuit of a canal across Central America | --- |
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What You'll Learn
The Monroe Doctrine
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 terms are derived from an aphorism often used by Roosevelt: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far". This approach can be understood as negotiating peacefully but also having the strength to take action if needed.
Now, onto the Monroe Doctrine, which was articulated by President James Monroe in his annual address to Congress in 1823. The Monroe Doctrine stated that the United States would consider any military intervention in Latin America by a European power as a threat to American security. Roosevelt reaffirmed and expanded upon the Monroe Doctrine, declaring that the US had the right to intervene in any Latin American nation to correct administrative and fiscal deficiencies. This interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine, also known as the Roosevelt Corollary, called for America to be assertively involved in the affairs of other nations in the Western Hemisphere. Roosevelt believed that the United States was a civilizing power and had an obligation to bring order to the world. He used the "big stick" of military power to enforce the Monroe Doctrine through multiple interventions in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine had several components. Firstly, it emphasised the need for the US to possess a strong military capability that would be taken seriously by adversaries. This meant building a world-class navy, as Roosevelt never had a large army at his disposal. The Great White Fleet, consisting of 16 battleships, peacefully circumnavigated the globe, demonstrating America's rising neutral prestige. Roosevelt also believed in the manly duty of the US to exercise international police power, particularly in the Caribbean, to spread the benefits of Anglo-Saxon civilisation to what he considered inferior states. This belief in American exceptionalism and the civilising mission justified police actions in "dysfunctional" countries and enabled the founding of the naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
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The Roosevelt Corollary
The Big Stick policy was built on Roosevelt's belief in what he saw as the inevitable conflict between the "civilized" and "barbarian" peoples of the world. Roosevelt believed that the United States was a great civilizing power and, therefore, had an obligation and right to bring order to the world. This belief led to his interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine, which called for America to be assertively involved in the affairs of other nations in the Western Hemisphere. 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".
Roosevelt used military muscle several times throughout his two terms to complement his diplomatic policies and enforce the Monroe Doctrine through interventions in Latin America. This included the Great White Fleet, 16 battleships that peacefully circumnavigated the globe, illustrating the United States' rising yet neutral prestige under Roosevelt's direction. Roosevelt insisted that the "big stick" and the persuasive power of the US military could assure US hegemony over strategically important regions in the Western Hemisphere.
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The inevitability of conflict
Roosevelt's belief in the inevitability of conflict between the "civilized" and "barbarian" peoples of the world shaped his diplomatic approach. He argued that the United States, as a great civilizing power, had both the obligation and the right to bring order to the world. This belief led to his interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine, which called for assertive American involvement in the affairs of other nations in the Western Hemisphere.
Roosevelt's big stick diplomacy had five components. The first and most essential was to possess a formidable military capability that would force adversaries to pay attention. This meant having a world-class navy, as Roosevelt never had a large army during his early presidency. The display of military might was intended to complement his diplomatic policies and enforce the Monroe Doctrine through interventions in Latin America.
One notable example of Roosevelt's big stick diplomacy in action was the Great White Fleet, which consisted of 16 battleships that peacefully circumnavigated the globe. This demonstrated the United States' rising prestige and power under Roosevelt's leadership. Roosevelt also used the "big stick" during Canal Diplomacy, employing diplomatic actions to pursue the construction of a canal across Central America.
Roosevelt's belief in the inevitability of conflict influenced his approach to domestic issues as well. He applied the "big stick" philosophy to his relations with domestic political leaders and issues such as the regulation of monopolies and the demands of trade unions. Roosevelt's policies and actions as president reflected his conviction that conflict was inevitable and that the United States had a civilizing mission to fulfil through the exercise of military and diplomatic power.
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US imperialism
Roosevelt's presidency was marked by a significant expansion of US military power, particularly the development of a world-class navy. He believed that the United States had a civilising mission to bring order to the world and, specifically, to intervene in the affairs of "dysfunctional" nations in Latin America and the Caribbean. This belief led to the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, which justified US military interventions in the region to correct administrative and fiscal deficiencies and to protect American business interests.
The Spanish-American War, which Roosevelt had fought in, demonstrated American military power and opened the door for further imperialism. The United States used its military might to assert hegemony over strategically important regions in the Western Hemisphere, such as Cuba, where the naval base at Guantanamo Bay was established. Roosevelt's policies also enabled American businesses to exert influence in the region, through the repayment of foreign loans.
Roosevelt's "big stick diplomacy" reflected his personal beliefs and connections to foreign bondholders. He saw the United States as a superior civilising force, with a duty to exercise international police power and spread the benefits of Anglo-Saxon civilisation to "inferior states". This sense of American exceptionalism and destiny contributed to an ambitious global power projection through military might.
The "big stick ideology" had a significant impact on US foreign policy in the early 20th century, shaping the country's approach to international relations and the use of military force to further its imperialist agenda. Roosevelt's policies set a precedent for future presidential decrees and interventions in the internal affairs of other nations, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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Gunboat diplomacy
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 terms are derived from an aphorism often used by Roosevelt: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far". This approach is comparable to gunboat diplomacy, which is used in international politics by world powers.
During his presidency, Roosevelt expanded the US fleet and sent the Great White Fleet, consisting of 16 battleships, on a circumnavigation of the globe as a demonstration of American power and prestige. Roosevelt believed that the United States had a civilising mission and a duty to exercise international police power, particularly in the Caribbean and Latin America. He saw an inevitable conflict between the "civilised" and "barbarian" peoples of the world and believed that the United States had a right and obligation to bring order to the world.
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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. Big stick diplomacy involves negotiating peacefully while also having the strength of the military as a backup.
Theodore Roosevelt advocated big stick diplomacy.
Roosevelt believed that it was essential to possess serious military capability, in the form of a world-class navy, that would force adversaries to pay close attention.
Roosevelt believed that the United States was a great civilizing power and therefore had an obligation and right to bring order to the world. This belief led to his interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine, which called for America to be assertively involved in the affairs of other nations in the Western Hemisphere.
Roosevelt used the "big stick" in his diplomatic approach by stationing naval forces in Cuba to ensure "the respect of the Monroe Doctrine" and the compliance of other parties. He also used the "big stick" during Canal Diplomacy, the US's diplomatic actions during the pursuit of a canal across Central America.
