The insecurities of the rising giants
History generally
repeats itself and this is not an unrealistic view, as the explanation (always)
lies in the inherent "passions" of man.
My narrative will
be short, about a well-known historical event, but one that teaches and refers
to parallels with the current world events...
The final text of
the Congress of Vienna was published in 1815, shortly before the Waterloo campaign and Napoleon's final defeat. It was a meeting that reshaped the
European map after the Napoleonic Wars.
However, to their
dismay, the powers that had emerged from this Congress saw the then British
Prime Minister Canning recognise every independent state in South America,
under pressure, of course, from City interests seeking exclusive trade.South America
This recognition
also worried American President James Monroe (1817-1825), who was concerned
both about the possibility of France supporting the Spanish reconquest and
about Canning's role, which he saw as threatening. In 1823, Monroe imagined
with horror Russia occupying California and Peru, France occupying Mexico, and
Britain occupying Cuba. As Monroe himself, had stated: "There is a danger
to our peace and security."
Thus was born the
Monroe Doctrine, according to which the Americas, North and South should be off
limits to their former European parents. They were now the "sphere of
influence" of the United States.
Isn't the
correspondence with today clear? Well, the name of the rising giant doesn't
matter, it could be any country...
