*Open-Door Imperialism* In a recent thread (Some say China is not imperialist because it has no militaristic expantion) Michael Meeropol cryptically referred to William Appleman Williams idea of “Open-door imperialism.”
I think that point deserves more discussion. Although I have not read “The Tragedy of American Diplomacy” for many decades, I think Williams was on the right track. IMHO, the USA was really the first modern imperialist country. Lenin’s famous pamphlet danced around the topic avoiding military and political issues to focus on the economic side of the question. Mostly, this was to avoid Tsarist censors. The older imperialisms of Europe and Asia were based on territorial conquest, and on the plunder, tribute, and mercantile control it entailed. The British empire, the most important of those in the modern era, was an improvised affair that ended up having two different models of empire: the settler colonial model in what became the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand (and also in, but not as completely in, South Africa and Zimbabwe); and the Vice Royalty model of the British colonial conquests in southern Asia and other parts of Africa. That model entailed temporary settlers and formation of English speaking colonial bureaucracies staffed by local people who were educated and taught to be loyal but privileged servants of the empire (At least that was what the imperialists hoped for). The United States struck out onto a new path at the end of the 19 th century. Rather, it decided to enter the fray and compete with the old empires of Europe in acquiring overseas empires. The close of the North American frontier had ended the first phase of US settler colonial imperialism. What should it do? Conquer the rest of Mexico? Some said, Yes! Conquer Canada? That door had long been closed. Go South young man ad filibuster! Cuba and Puerto Rico looked ripe for the taking, and so for that matter, did the Philippines. The Spanish-American war ensured, and the USA took all three! What to do next? Improvise! Depending on local circumstance the United States tried three different tactics: British style colonial conquest in the Philippines, a new hybrid type colony in Puerto Rico, and a subservient but formally independent country in Cuba. Of the three, the Cuban experiment seemed like the most promising model for US imperialisms future forays onto the world stage. It was already working on a series of those in Asia. It had “opened the doors” of Japan and was trying to force the open doors policy on the dying Chinese empire AND on its imperialist rivals for dominance in that country. The combination of the Puerto Rican model and the open door policy became the basis of US imperialism for the rest of the 20 th century, and it became the real basis for “international law” following the US victory in WWII. What is sacred is the right of imperialist capital to invest in every country, and to have those investments protected against expropriation and local laws and regulations. All of that other stuff about human and democratic rights can be, and is, ignored. What is now happening in Ukraine, is Russia’s failing challenge to that world order, and its attempt to return to the older style of imperialism based on conquest, tribute and monopoly privilege. Chinese imperialism has proceeded cautiously. It is committed to, and working profitably within, the US dictated world order. However, it is not only keeping its powder dry, it is building up a stock pile, just in case. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#32131): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/32131 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/108347993/21656 -=-=- POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. #4 Do not exceed five posts a day. -=-=- Group Owner: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/8674936/21656/1316126222/xyzzy [[email protected]] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
