Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

I'm torn about giving this book 2 stars. It's obviously well-researched by someone who's spent a lot of time thinking about the subject but it's not the story of Dictator Trujillo or the Dominican Republic or even a story at all -- there is no narrative. It's a book about policy written for policy wonks. It is not a coherent history, but rather an extensive thesis on how the different perceived goals of the military and state department interwoven with the personal biases of individuals create policy, using the Dominican Republic as a case study. It questions the perceived wisdom that propping up dictators and strong men in non-democratic nations at least create a framework of stability that benefits a country, if not the individuals within a country.

Recommended as a sleep aid because it's the driest thing I've read in a year.

This book is very informative on the history of my beloved country. Mr. Roorda did extensive research regarding the history of the Domincan Republic which makes it essential to fully understand the reasons behind my uncle's way of governing. Americans still to this day need to better understand the way, the hispanic mind thinks, and the way we are! Once americans understand this, they will be better informed when they opiniate on latin american affairs. When you research the past before my uncle, it becomes quite clear the reason that when you read into the inaffective governments before him, nothing was accomplished. How many weak Ceo's in American Corporations have been successful? My uncle built a country out of manure! clear and simple! Mr. Roorda has my compliments.
It will provide a better understanding to Dominican history, for individuals who have a love of world history. Mr. Roorda states in the begining of the book, that my uncle made it difficult for American Companies to do business in the Dominican Republic, of course! his main concern was for the best interest of his country, period! so, Mr. Roorda, my compliments.
Sincerely and Respectfully,
Danilo Lynen Trujillo

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.

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!

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.

Here is a quote from the publisher: "The Dictator Next Door by Eric Paul Roorda has won the 1998 Herbert Hoover Award, presented by the Hoover Library Association. The book was also named a co-winner of the Stuart L. Bernath Award, presented by the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations."