ABSTRACT

“Democracy,” signifies a form of government in which all classes, including the lowest, have a voice either directly or through their freely chosen representatives. In purer and more idealistic tradition, democracy extends beyond the realm of the political. From the perspective diplomacy represents an effort to impose values upon other societies, ones whose cultural outlooks and historical roots are often decidedly different. The cyclical nature of inter-American relations has already been identified as a prominent feature in its history. The US policy of strengthening democratic governments and condemning threats to their existence was tested by a series of military golpes de estado in seven nations from 1961 through 1963. Considered in conjunction with the preceding examples, the John F. Kennedy approach could be said to have manifested an zeal and energetic proselytizing in seeking to strengthen civilian-elected governments in Latin America.