When Hitler took over Czechoslovakia in 1938 and then split Poland with Stalin in 1939, my parents’ generation chose to make the sovereignty of nation states a priority in the United Nations Charter upon returning from the war. With what’s happening in Venezuela, our generation must question once again whether any legal doctrine exists to protect the weak from the strong.
Let’s not fall into the trap of thinking that it was U. S. President Donald Trump who dealt sovereignty its final blow. We’re not witnessing a shocking new narrative but rather the culmination of a long-standing one. The Monroe Doctrine, established in 1823, claimed Latin America as America’s exclusive zone of influence, making every nation’s sovereignty within that area subject to Washington’s approval.
The history of American disregard for Latin American sovereignty is well-documented. When Americans decided to construct the Panama Canal in 1902, and former President Franklin D. Roosevelt questioned the legal justification for intruding on Panamanian sovereignty, his attorney general famously replied, as writer George Will reminded us, “Oh, Mr. President, do not let so great an achievement suffer from any taint of legality.”
Every Latin American knows the long list of U. S. violations against their territorial integrity throughout the twentieth century. In 1954, when Guatemala’s democratically elected president initiated a land reform program that upset United Fruit Company interests, CIA operatives arranged a coup at President Dwight Eisenhower’s request that forced Jacobo Árbenz into exile. When Fidel Castro ousted Batista’s government in Cuba, President John F. Kennedy ordered the failed Bay of Pigs operation in 1961 aimed at overthrowing Castro’s regime. In 1973, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Nixon’s CIA coordinated with Chilean military leaders to topple Salvador Allende’s democratically elected government and set up Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship. In 1989, President George H. W. Bush authorized actions against Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega for drug charges leading to his extradition to the U. S.
By attempting to capture Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, Trump’s administration claims it’s simply executing a warrant for an alleged drug trafficker. However, Trump goes on to assert he will now govern until he decides whom to return power to.
While it’s common for many on both sides of politics in America and Europe to blame everything on America itself, we must remember past instances like Hungary in 1956 or Prague in 1968 and Afghanistan in 1979-those breaches of sovereignty can largely be attributed to Russia.
A world where norms around sovereignty erode favors those who prey on others. Russian President Vladimir Putin may have lost Maduro as an ally but has gained something even more valuable: permission to continue his aggressive expansion efforts without fear of repercussions. If Venezuelan sovereignty can be dismissed so easily, so too can Ukraine’s autonomy be compromised. Similarly, China under President Xi Jinping is likely interpreting ongoing U. S. actions as justifying their military exercises around Taiwan-if America can claim dominion over Latin America unchallenged then China could make similar claims over East Asia impacting not only Taiwan but also Japan and South Korea whose security relies heavily on America’s guarantees.
A division into spheres of influence brings forth serious challenges regarding state sovereignty within those areas; Canada and Mexico might look at Venezuela’s situation and start contemplating distressing possibilities-what if they need protection not just from Russia or China but also from their own neighbor?
The entities promoting these spheres assure us they are paving the way towards stability-a world free from global policing or universal moral arguments like human rights that justify interference by stronger nations into weaker ones’ affairs will emerge instead rooted firmly on straightforward moral relativism-what works for me is my business; what works for you is yours-and peace will hinge on armed deterrence governed by might makes right principles.
In this new reality we’ve entered into weaker nations must cultivate self-reliance along with resilience while using cleverness as tools against aggressors’ advances; Europe can’t keep issuing lectures about morals while trying simultaneously regulating America’s economic giants anymore since its entire political viability relies now heavily upon generating its own capital markets building robust economic independence alongside necessary military capabilities needed for self-defense purposes respectively speaking about Canada-Mexico relationship dynamics too-they must quickly forge new alliances develop economic ties break down barriers limiting productive output together effectively moving forward!
If these middle powers face their challenges head-on collaboratively-a potential multilateralism could emerge driven by mutual goals focused squarely toward counteracting predator power plays! Banding together offers hope toward preserving each nation’s sovereignty allowing them successfully navigate through complexities ahead unlike going solo risking falling prey cozying up either predator!
What remains concerning however about this very notion surrounding traditional norms protecting such sovereign rights often trampled beyond recognition? Both law ethics face similar fates-they seem fragile since routinely ignored leaving us questioning whether they still hold weight whatsoever! Our lives rely profoundly upon trustworthiness-that people we share space/work amongst keep promises refrain betrayal tell truths whenever possible yet disappointment looms large because humanity seems rife with deception!
No matter how bleak things appear-the importance fidelity honesty truth-telling endures! Their rarity lends them value fueling our resolve defend uphold them fiercely whenever possible especially when discussing matters relating back towards ideals concerning statehood/status quo advocating respect among peoples everywhere across globe alike seeking basic human decency!”
Originally as “Venezuela’s Fate” by Michael Ignatieff (Substack). Reprinted with permission of the author.
Michael Ignatieff is the former president of Central European University.
