The Dictator Next Door: The Good Neighbor Policy and the Trujillo Regime in the Dominican Republic, 1930-1945 (American Encounters/Global Interactions)

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Summary: review of the dictator next door (Trujillo regime)
Review: Eric Paul Roorda gives an insightful view in the often overlooked subject of u.s. diplomatic and military relations with latin american dictators, namely that of the Trujillo regime in the Dominican Republic. Through exhaustive research and excellent writing, Roorda gives a detailed account of how the dictatorship of trujillo took advantage of F.D.R's Good Neighbor Policy in order to cement complete social and politcal control upon the Dominican people. Roorda illustrated how the Good Neighbor Policy, in effect, gave tacit consent to the Trujillo regime. Another aspect of American diplomatic history that Roorda poignantly sheds light on, is the racist and prejudice attitudes of many of the American players in the game of foreign affairs. These prejudices gives the U.S. government a paternalistic view of the governments they deal with as well as the people from those nations. The Dictator Next Door is a must read for any student of Dominican history and for any reader interested in American foreign affairs under the Good Neighbor Policy.

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Summary: Good intentions gone bad.
Review: Eric Paul Roorda's book is a very interesting study in how well-intentioned U.S. policy backfired. Beginning with Hoover and continuing with FDR, the U.S. tried to be a "good neighbor" to Latin American nations. In other words, the U.S. ceased to intervene at the drop of a hat. In the case of the Dominican Republic, this new policy allowed a ruthless military dictator with fascist tendencies, Rafael Trujillo, to seize power. Despite warnings from those in the know, the U.S. held fast to its non-intervention policy and allowed Trujillo to hold power for years. The book documents all of this as well as Trujillo's well-organized and continual lobbying effort to gain the approval from U.S. officials that he craved. I had thought for a long time that we should stay out of the business of other nations, but this book certainly casts doubt on the wisdom of that approach. Highly recommended.

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Summary: WHOEVER SAID HISTORY WAS BORING????
Review: No wonder this book has won so much praise in the history community! Not your usual history book... A must for students of Caribbean history, and an eye-opener for the rest of us.
Highly recommended!

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Summary: WHOEVER SAID HISTORY WAS BORING????
Review: There are very few actually good readable books on the Caribbean islands. There are even fewer books on the Dominican republic and Haiti. The only books that come to mind besides this one are `Why the Cocks fight' by Wucker and `death of a dictator' by Diederich. This book is a very good account of the early years of Trujillo and his relations with America. Trujillo is best remembered for the massacre of the Haitians, immigrants who had invaded his country. Other topics are covered in detail including the Jewish refugees, WWII and FDR interest in the Caribbean. An essential history of American involvement and the history of this important country.

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Summary: An essential read
Review: There are very few actually good readable books on the Caribbean islands. There are even fewer books on the Dominican republic and Haiti. The only books that come to mind besides this one are 'Why the Cocks fight' by Wucker and 'death of a dictator' by Diederich. This book is a very good account of the early years of Trujillo and his relations with America. Trujillo is best remembered for the massacre of the Haitians, immigrants who had invaded his country. Other topics are covered in detail including the Jewish refugees, WWII and FDR interest in the Caribbean. An essential history of American involvement and the history of this important country.

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Summary: Thrilling views on a crucial issue, but poorly substantiated
Review: This book approaches a topic which deserves serious attention by scholars of international relations - much more than is happening. It approaches this topic from an interesting and rather revisionist point of view, offering the author's views and some interpretations. Yet, the study is not so subjective, and not at all substantiated by facts. All in all interesting reading, new views to talk and argue about, but nothing really new or inspiring.

Rating:
Summary: Thrilling views on a crucial issue, but poorly substantiated
Review: This book approaches a topic which deserves serious attention by scholars of international relations - much more than is happening. It approaches this topic from an interesting and rather revisionist point of view, offering the author's views and some interpretations. Yet, the study is not so subjective, and not at all substantiated by facts. All in all interesting reading, new views to talk and argue about, but nothing really new or inspiring.