Cuaderno Latinoamericano
Sorry about the blank post before, I guess I'm still figuring out how to post.
After our in class discussion today about modern imperialism in reference to world powers shaping smaller and less powerful states in their own image and with their own ideals through development, I decided that I would like to continue that discussion online.
When a more advanced state aids in the development of a lesser state, the question has to be asked, what is in it for them. It is hard to believe, in the political sphere, that a state is helping another out of simple benevolence, especially in a power struggle situation like world sphere politics. In class we also discussed realism in terms of international relations, and I think we are currently realizing a very strong realist Presidential administration. In the specific but still very broad example of Latin America, an region so close to the US is obviously seen as important to the US in regards to trade relations, political relationships and stability. If the US helps in the aid of an underdeveloped Latin American State under our current administration, which as previously stated I believe as being very realist in nature, I can not help but assume that we are keeping our own interests in mind as much as the interests of any state that we would help to develop.
I'm looking forward to this hopefully sparking more discussion.
[EDITOR'S UPDATE: I've deleted the blank post that Jim is referring to above.--Jefe Maximo]
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One wonders, though, whether or not working for the best interest of other countries is ultimately, though it may not seem it at the moment, in the best interest of the country engaged in helping another.
To put in another way, it may not have been in Martin Luther King, Jr.'s own personal interest to pursue the civil rights cause, since one can reasonably argue that it led to his death; but by sacrificing his own life in this way has served his long term interests when one considers that the changed world he helped to create is now a better world for his own children and his people. And is this not in his own best interest as well? Furthermore, if one is a believer in an afterlife that is predicated on good deeds, one might also contend that MLK, Jr.'s sacrifice guaranteed his place in heaven.
I guess my point is that serving the best interests of others without any selfish thought or care whether or not our own interest will be served, ultimately (and ironically) always serves our own best interest. Likewise, contending against the interests of others may augment our own immediate interests in the short term, but over the long haul is guaranteed to come back and bite us in the rear!
Just some food for thought.
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