The Monroe Doctrine: Is it Still Prevalent in the 20th and 21st Centuries?

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Since the beginning of time humans in general have been social creatures, ultimately resulting in a need or want to get involved in other people’s affairs. Even as early as Aristotle (who was an ancient Greek philosopher) described humans and their interactions with one another. Therefore, one can conclude that friendships and relationships have been in existence since the beginning of human interaction. One can say that foreign policy has occurred for thousands of years under this pretext. People often believe that it is their duty to correct the injustice or to aid those around them. The question of whether or not a foreign policy is necessary has been the age old inquiry. The beginning of human associations with foreign countries and the policy to handle them is as ancient as societies themselves. For some, they believe it is vital in order to strategically keep the world balanced, while for others they insist that it creates more chaos. John Quincy Adams, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton (just to name a few) were all men who had very different opinions on this delicate subject.
John Quincy Adams was one individual that believed that foreign policy was hindering the United States from expanding. In 1823, Napoleon had conquered Spain and Portugal, which resulted in Spain loosing most of its political power in Latin America. This meant that most of the Spanish empire was now nonexistent. President James Monroe soon discovered that France wanted to re-establish a Spanish American empire. Monroe soon feared that Europeans would try to continue to colonize the United States. As a result of this trepidation and Monroe’s desire to end colonization, the Monroe Doctrine was born in “order to discourage Spain or France from reconquerin...

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... Bible, poems, as well as history books) that human interaction can be a very messy thing. The main purpose of a country’s foreign policy(aka foreign relations), is in the self interest of the country in order to protect their national interests, as well keep the peace between countries. The issue with the Monroe Doctrine, as well as the modern day interpretation of it, is that no matter what the country takes a gamble. By being involved in other countries foreign policy you can have negative consequences, but by standing by and letting injustice happen (letting innocent people die) America can be affect as well. Our presidents must consider both sides of the outcome when considering the Monroe Doctrine as a reference used in foreign policy. This constant struggle still continues more than almost 2 centuries later and will for years to come.

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