Cooperating with the Colossus: A Social and Political History of US Military Bases in World War II Latin America

During World War II, the US built over two hundred defense installations on sovereign soil in Latin America, leading to local conflicts and tensions between Latin American leaders and diplomats. The book "Cooperating with the Colossus" explores how Latin American leaders used basing rights as bargaining chips to advance their nation-building agendas, while also limiting the overreach of the US. The history of basing highlights the central tension between national sovereignty and international cooperation in regional affairs.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 15 November 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

During the Second World War, the United States established over two hundred defense installations on sovereign soil in Latin America, under the guise of cooperation in hemisphere defense. However, this endeavor proved to be a complex and contentious affair. Despite the widespread acclaim for Pan-American unity with the Allied cause, the defense construction sparked local conflicts that contradicted the wartime rhetoric of fraternity and equality.

Cooperating with the Colossus: The History of US Basing in World War II Latin America, by Daniel E. Kornbluh, delves into the history of US basing in Latin America during World War II. The book explores the various dimensions of this complex relationship, from the elegant chambers of American foreign ministries to the bustling streets and neighborhoods surrounding US defense sites.

The book focuses on the wartime experiences of Brazil, Cuba, and Panama, highlighting how Latin American leaders and diplomats used basing rights as bargaining chips to advance their nation-building agendas with US resources. At the same time, they sought to limit the overreach of the "Colossus of the North." However, conflicts on the ground, ranging from labor rights to discrimination, sex, and criminal jurisdiction, routinely threatened the peace and stability of the region.

While the story of wartime basing departs from the celebratory triumphalism commonly associated with this period in US-Latin American relations, the book does not entirely upend the conventional account of wartime cooperation. Instead, it sheds light on a central tension that has permeated regional affairs since the wave of independence movements transformed the Americas into a society of nations: national sovereignty and international cooperation.

Drawing on extensive archival research in five countries, Cooperating with the Colossus offers a revealing and nuanced history that is told at the local, national, and international levels. The book provides a valuable perspective on the complex dynamics that shaped the wartime relationship between the United States and Latin America, and its enduring impact on the region's political, economic, and social landscape.

In conclusion, Cooperating with the Colossus is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of US-Latin American relations, international relations, and the complexities of national sovereignty and international cooperation. The book offers a valuable contribution to our understanding of this critical period in world history and its ongoing relevance to contemporary global affairs.

Weight: 518g
Dimension: 234 x 160 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197531877