Confronting Revolution: Security Through Diplomacy in Central America - Hardcover

Blachman, Morris

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0394553519 ISBN 13: 9780394553511

Publisher: Pantheon, 1986

Synopsis

Confronting Revolution is a practical, thoughtful analysis of the failure of the United States to pursue a viable policy of national interest in Central America or a clearly formulated policy alternative, for the region as a whole, and for each country in it. The authors carefully explain the interests of each major actor in the region, with key chapters on the Soviet Union, Cuba, and Nicaragua. They examine the Contadora peace proposal of Mexico, Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela, and consider why the United States refuses to support it. And they conclude with a clear statement of what a viable American foreign policy would be.

Confronting Revolution shows that the failures of American policy are rooted in a tenacious fear of revolution and radical change in the region, a fear that goes back well over a century. The essays show how our fears, not our interests, have led us into the most overt "covert" war in history against Nicaragua; brought us into the heart of the murderous cycle of repression and terror in El Salvador; so militarized Honduras that we are engendering an opposition that is likely to engulf that nation, too, in bitter conflict; allied us indirectly with one of the most murderous regimes in the world in Guatemala; jeopardized our current apparently tranquil relations with Panama; and encouraged democratic Costa Rica to pursue policies that may end up destroying its freedom. Learning to accept radical change and facing up to dealing with the left, this book concludes, are in the end the only way we can obtain our security in the region.

About this title

Review

Every day headlines add new elements to the controversial question of how Washington should deal with Central America. The editors of "Confronting Revolution" answer with words in the subtitle: "through diplomacy." The United States, these essays by 15 contributors say, should abandon its "hegemonic strategic vision" and adopt "a policy of principled realism." Not everybody will agree with the proposed alternatives for dealing with Central America, but the book clearly sets forth the problems the United States faces there.
--New York Times Book Review

"We in the United States know so little about Central America, and ignorance feeds our policy failures. Confronting Revolution explains the reasons for turbulence in the region. With clarity and conviction it argues the case for change in U.S. policies that have prolonged misery for Central Americans and anxiety for us."
--Anthony Lewis 

From Library Journal

Beginning in 1982, the 15 contributors to this volume debated, and subsequently wrote up, their views of U.S. foreign policy in Central America. The book's value lies in the fact that it is nonpartisan, that the contributors worked two years to integrate their essays, and that it offers a pragmatic version of security though diplomacy. Coverage includes individual countries, outside actors, and U.S. foreign policy towards the region. The authors believe that East-West conflict is secondary, that diplomacy is the key solution to peace, that we should rarely act unilaterally, and that our principles should be applied equally to all countries. Recommended for most libraries. Roderic A. Camp, Latin American Studies Dept., Central Coll., Pella, Ia.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Pantheon
• Publication date: 1986
• ISBN 10: 0394553519
• ISBN 13: 9780394553511
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 438