Panama and the United States: The End of the AllianceAfter Panama assumed control of the Panama Canal in 1999, its relations with the United States became those of a friendly neighbor. In this third edition, Michael L. Conniff describes Panama’s experience as owner-operator of one of the world’s premier waterways and the United States’ adjustment to its new, smaller role. He finds that Panama has done extremely well with the canal and economic growth but still struggles to curb corruption, drug trafficking, and money laundering.
Historically, Panamanians aspired to have their country become a crossroads of the world, while Americans sought to tame a vast territory and protect their trade and influence around the globe. The building of the Panama Canal (1904–14) locked the two countries in their parallel quests but failed to satisfy either fully. Drawing on a wide array of sources, Conniff considers the full range of factors—political, social, strategic, diplomatic, economic, and intellectual—that have bound the two countries together. |
Contents
The Railroad | |
The French Period | |
Canal Diplomacy 19021919 | |
From Gunboats to the Nuclear Age 19201945 | |
Uneasy Partners 19451960 | |
Treaty Implementation 19791985 | |
The Noriega Crisis and Bushs Ordeal | |
Canal Ownership and Sovereignty at Last | |
Beyond the Forced Alliance | |
Notes | |
Supplemental Bibliographical Essay for the Second Edition | |
A Time of Troubles and Treaties 19601979 | |
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Common terms and phrases
agreement alliance Araúz Arias Arnulfo bases became began Bogotá British Bunau-Varilla campaign Canal Zone Caribbean Central America chap Clayton-Bulwer Treaty Colombia Colón concession Congress construction countries decade defense diplomatic Dominio y sociedad drug early economic Eisenhower elections elite Finally Five Frontiers force foreign French Gran Colombia hemisphere Ibid important independence invasion Isthmian isthmus John Major Jorden labor Land Divided Latin America leaders locks Mack major managed Manuel Antonio Noriega meanwhile million Mireya Moscoso Moscoso negotiations neutrality Nicaragua Noriega Omar Torrijos operations Panama Canal Panama City Panama Odyssey Panama Railroad Panamanian Panamanian Politics Pentagon percent Pérez Balladares Perez-Venero plans Porras President presidential region Remón Republic sea-level canal Senate ships sovereignty strategic terminal cities thousand took Torrijos trade transit troops U.S. authorities U.S. Congress U.S. government U.S. military U.S. officials U.S.-Panamanian relations United USNA Washington Watermelon War West Indians York