Divergent Narratives: Two Books, One Continent

Recent publications by Greg Grandin and Santiago Muñoz Machado offer contrasting perspectives on the history and identity of the Americas. Grandin’s America, América. A New History of the New World (Penguin), has garnered varied, yet largely positive, reviews, sparking debate among historians and critics alike. This book arrives alongside Muñoz Machado’s Of Democracy in Latin America (Taurus), creating an opportunity to examine differing viewpoints on the same subject matter, especially concerning “national stories” and their implications for both Latin America and the United States.

Grandin’s Moral Critique: A Deep dive into Hemispheric Ideologies

According to Jorge Cañizares-Esguerra, Grandin’s work provides “an exhaustive and masterful analysis of 300 years of conflicting geopolitical interpretations of Anglo-American and Spanish-American sovereignty and history.” This analysis illuminates the emergence of international law within the hemisphere and its subsequent global impact. Cañizares-Esguerra contrasts this with what he views as Muñoz Machado’s “tragic, ideological, and uninformed” vision. He emphasizes the moral dimension of Grandin’s book,suggesting it will fuel meaningful discussion.

The Enduring Question: Who is American? What is America?

The question of who can claim the label “American” has been a source of contention for centuries. As early as the 18th century, Cotton Mather declared, “I am American.” Similarly, servando Teresa de Mier, a radical Catholic priest born in Mexico, considered himself American. Mier, who established a printing press in Philadelphia to publish books banned by Spain, lamented the Anglo-American appropriation of the term “America.”

Mier identified two key issues: the conflation of Latin America with South America and the tendency of European empires to restrict the term “America” to their own colonial possessions. He criticized the notion that there was no other America than thay dominate, arguing that the whole new world is America.

A Continent Divided: Ideological Disputes and Ethical Considerations

Grandin’s book delves into the historical ideological and ethical disputes within the New World. He employs the concept of “immanent criticism,” where dissenters challenge the inconsistencies between a worldview’s declared ideals and its actual practices.Latin America, in this context, serves as a critical voice, holding the United States accountable to its own proclaimed values.

For over two centuries, Latin American politicians, activists, intellectuals, and artists have assessed the United States based on the shared premise that America is a continent with a redemptive historical mission. This perspective offers a unique lens through which to examine the complex relationship between the United States and its southern neighbors.

The Shifting Landscape of American Identity

The ambiguity surrounding the term “America” is not new. Even before the American Revolution, Anglo-Saxon settlers used “America” to refer both to the entire New World and to their own limited territory. The Articles of Confederation in 1777 designated the new nation as the “United States of America,” but also simply as “America.” This linguistic fluidity reflects the ongoing struggle to define American identity and its place within the broader context of the Western Hemisphere.

Beyond Borders: Rethinking American History

To truly grasp the historical narrative of Anglophone North america, one must also delve into the often-overlooked histories of Spanish and Portuguese America.this encompasses everything from the initial Spanish conquests and Puritan settlements to the very foundation of the United States. It includes the displacement of Indigenous populations, the concept of Manifest Destiny, the westward expansion, the eras of slavery, abolition, and the Civil War, and the subsequent rise of the United States as a global power. This interconnectedness extends from World War I through the Second World War, from the Monroe Doctrine to the establishment of the United Nations and beyond.Conversely, the history of the South cannot be fully understood without considering the influence and trajectory of the North.

America, America: A Mirror Reflecting the Modern World

the narrative extends beyond a mere chronicle of the Western Hemisphere.It serves as a lens through which to examine the modern world, exploring how centuries of conflict and bloodshed across the Americas have shaped not only the political identities of the United States and Latin America but also the very structure of global governance. This includes the liberal international order, which many now believe faces a critical juncture.

The Conquest and its Discontents: A Crisis of Universalism

The story begins with the brutal Spanish conquest. The extreme violence inflicted upon the Indigenous peoples of the New World in the early 16th century sent shockwaves through the Catholic world, triggering a period of introspection and reform within Catholicism itself – a dissent as profound as that initiated by Martin Luther. The Catholic Church, which proclaimed itself as a universal entity, an agent of human history, and a bearer of Humanitas, found itself grappling with the implications of unprecedented brutality. This massacre, considered by scholars as one of the largest mortality events in human history, forced theologians to re-evaluate Catholic doctrines of universalism.

Many clergy members ultimately defended Spanish dominion, not by denying the humanity of the native peoples of America, but by asserting that they were of a lower class than those of Europe: defective, untouched by the divine, and emerging from the mud. This justification allowed for their dispossession and enslavement. Today, modern human rights laws and international conventions stand in stark contrast to these historical justifications, emphasizing the inherent dignity and equality of all individuals, regardless of origin.

Dissent and Evasion: The Seeds of Divergence

Though, dissent emerged, most notably from figures like Father Bartolomé de las Casas, who recognized that what had been previously considered universal was, actually, provincial. He argued that Europe was merely a collection of feuding principalities whose leaders and priests were ignorant of the wider world and its millions of inhabitants. The arguments of these theologians and jurists resonated through the centuries. Protestant England took note of the ongoing Spanish debates and the Catholic friars who insisted on the humanity of the peoples of the New World, questioning whether they could establish their settlements in Jamestown and Plymouth with more principled defenses. Ultimately, they chose a path of evasion.

The Age of Revolutions: A Hemispheric Struggle for Identity

The era of revolutions saw the New World break free from the Old. The United States was the first to achieve independence, envisioning itself as a solitary republic, an Anglo-Saxon empire in the desert. In contrast, the Spanish-American nations emerged collectively, forming a group of republics, a nascent league of nations. They were compelled to learn to coexist in order to survive. To a significant extent, they succeeded, with their intellectuals, lawyers, and statesmen developing a unique body of international law. These doctrines, precedents, and protocols were designed not to regulate war but to prohibit it, not to arbitrate conquests but to abolish them entirely.

Containing the Colossus: Latin American Responses to US expansionism

the challenge then became how to contain the United States. The first republic in the hemisphere appeared more as a force of nature than a political entity. Some of its founders openly stated that they saw no limits to its growth, envisioning a future where, after displacing the indigenous populations beyond the Rocky Mountains, it would eventually dominate all of North america and beyond. The question was: how to deal with a dynamic nation that saw itself as universal as Christianity,embodying the very spirit of universal history?

The Spanish and Portuguese Americans responded by updating the criticisms previously leveled against Spain during the conquest and directing them toward the United States. This action sparked a revolution in international law.

A Rivalry That Shaped the World

The rivalry between the Americas, and their mutual critique, played a crucial role in shaping the modern world, influencing its economy, politics, and morality.The Protestant settlers who colonized North America, followed by the Republicans who revolutionized it, viewed Latin America not as a foreign entity but as a competitor in an epic struggle to define a set of nominally shared ideals that were, in reality, highly contested: Christianity, freedom, law, sovereignty, property, equality, liberalism, democracy, and, above all, the very meaning of America.

The phrase America for Americans, was a common refrain among Washington’s leaders as they sought to define their relationship with the rest of the hemisphere.

Echoes of Empire: A Historical Parallel

The relationship between the United States and Latin America has long been a subject of intense scrutiny and debate. Historical analyses reveal a complex dynamic, frequently enough characterized by power imbalances and differing visions for the hemisphere’s future. Some observers have drawn parallels between the United States’ interactions with Latin American nations and the historical relationship between London and India, suggesting a form of hemispheric dominance.

The United States sought to engage with the emerging nations of the Americas in a manner reminiscent of london’s relationship with India.

North American Review (Historical Suggestion)

This perspective highlights the potential for exploitation and control, raising questions about the true nature of US involvement in the region.

A Counter-Narrative: “America for Humanity”

In response to perceived US dominance, a powerful counter-narrative emerged from Latin America.The phrase America for humanity encapsulated a desire for self-determination and a rejection of external interference. This sentiment reflected a deep-seated aspiration for a more equitable and collaborative relationship within the hemisphere.

America for humanity.

Latin American response

This slogan became a rallying cry for movements advocating for social justice, economic independence, and regional solidarity.

Contemporary Relevance: Navigating the Future

Understanding these historical tensions is crucial for navigating the complexities of contemporary US-Latin America relations. While the overt forms of intervention may have diminished, economic disparities, political influence, and security concerns continue to shape the dynamic.For example, recent data from the World Bank indicates that income inequality remains a significant challenge in many Latin American countries, potentially fueling social unrest and hindering enduring development. Furthermore, issues such as migration, drug trafficking, and climate change require collaborative solutions that respect the sovereignty and agency of all nations involved.