As soon as the Monroe Declaration was published, it caused widespread controversy at that time. 100 for more than a year, various schools have been arguing about Monroe Doctrine with different views. In the subsequent history, Monroe Doctrine became an important foundation of American diplomacy. At that time, the international environment and weak strength of the United States made American foreign policy makers face a severe test when dealing with Latin American independence. Monroe Doctrine declared in peaceful language that the United States began to play an independent role as a great power on the international stage, and its enlightenment to national strategy was thought-provoking.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the publication of the Monroe Declaration, an important document in American diplomatic history. Since its publication, there has been widespread controversy. Only in the European countries at that time, there were great differences in its evaluation. Advocates such as Galeries Lafayette in France commented that Monroe Doctrine was "the only outstanding work that God allowed mankind to give to the world"; [1] metternich and other detractors call it "an evil theory and a dangerous example". [2] For a long time, domestic and foreign political and academic circles have different opinions on this. This paper has no intention to make a positive or negative evaluation of Monroe Doctrine, but under the conditions of weak American national strength and complex international environment at that time, American foreign policy makers made a bold and far-sighted decision to publicly announce Monroe Doctrine to the world. "It is a cornerstone of the US foreign policy structure and should be affirmed. It was established from half a century of independence and getting along with foreign countries." [3] "Establish a world-renowned norm for American foreign policy and make it firmly rooted in national consciousness". [4] Monroe Doctrine did not have a direct impact for a long time after its publication, but as later historians commented, "Monroe Doctrine is important not because of what it did, but because of its development". [5] American policy towards Latin America has always been based on this. As late as 1960, it was also cited by the Soviet Union when it began to infiltrate Cuba. From the perspective of national strategy, Monroe Doctrine has laid a solid diplomatic foundation for the rising United States, and its strategic significance is thought-provoking.

First, the American international environment and American strength in Monroe period.

The publication of Monroe Declaration originated from the independence movement of Spanish colonies in America. Latin American countries started the independence movement on the occasion of the domestic uprising in Spain and achieved great victory. The United States is the first in the world to recognize the independence of Latin American countries. Faced with the threat of interference from the Holy Alliance, British Foreign Secretary Canning proposed to the United States that the two countries issue a joint statement, opposing the resumption of colonization in Latin America and advocating the recognition of Latin American independence. After a heated debate, American foreign policy makers decided to shelve Canning's proposal and explain the American position independently. It was released by then President Monroe in the form of State of the Union address on February 2, 823/KLOC-0, which is the origin of Monroe Doctrine.

The geographical scope of Monroe Doctrine is in Latin America, and the major powers involved are Spain, Britain, Russia and France. Spain is the sovereign state of the newly independent countries in Latin America, and strongly advocates suppressing the Latin American independence movement. Russia is the leader of the Holy Alliance. It owns Alaska in the United States and tries to expand into Central America. France has close economic relations with Latin America and actively advocates interference in Latin American affairs; Britain was the most powerful country at that time and the largest trading partner of the newly independent countries in Latin America. Although Britain is willing to see the independence of Spanish colonies in Latin America, it has doubts about the United States and tries to contain the expansion of American power. It can be said that the United States is facing a sinister international environment.

The Monroe Declaration was published in the 47th year after American independence. As far as the comprehensive strength of the country is concerned, the United States in Monroe's time was not a strong country, and even a weak country compared with these powerful countries involved. Economically, American manufacturing industry is only about 1/5 of that of Britain, less than half that of Russia and France, and lower than that of Spain, accounting for about 2% of the world's total manufacturing output value. [6] Monroe era is a naked era of power politics. Today, some widely accepted norms of international law and international norms, such as limiting the right to war, are far from being accepted. The most important means for countries to safeguard national interests and strive for international status is war, and the most important tool is the army. During the Monroe period, the military strength of the United States was quite weak. Before the publication of the Monroe Declaration, the United States suffered an economic crisis in 18 19, and some plans to expand its military strength were postponed or cancelled. 182 1 year, the us congress reduced the size of the army to 6 183. [7] Although the navy adopted a long-term construction plan in 18 19, the expansion plan was delayed and compressed. 1823, the strength of the US navy was only equivalent to that of France 1/. [8] Compared with the huge armies of hundreds of thousands of related big countries, it is almost negligible. The Holy Alliance threatened to suppress the Latin American independence movement. At that time, only the United States recognized Latin American independence in the international community. What kind of policy it adopts on Latin American independence will be an important test for the young United States.

Second, two strategic choices.

The rise of a great country is mainly based on sufficient strength, which is the foundation of becoming a great country. However, a great country is finally recognized as a great country by the international community, not just a matter of its own strength. On the road to becoming a big country, it is bound to experience some major tests in its foreign relations. A successful big country will not only stand the test, but more importantly, it will lay a lasting diplomatic tradition of big countries with these major events. These traditional influences are of strategic significance, which in turn will effectively promote the growth of strength. Monroe Doctrine has opened up a long strategic tradition for American diplomacy.

In response to Canning's suggestion, American foreign policy makers have formed two different opinions. Although President Monroe and former Presidents Jefferson and Madison don't trust Britain's intentions, they still believe that "the United States should form an alliance with the only big country that can hurt it to obtain security. This alliance will protect the independence of Latin America, which may be the best way to prevent the holy alliance from supporting Spain. " [9] Secretary of State Adams objected to Canning's suggestion, arguing that "it is much more aboveboard and decent to declare our principles to Russia and France directly than to be a boat trailing behind a British warship", and [10] advocated that the United States should express its opinions independently.

According to the theory of national strategy, there are five national grand strategies: hegemony, self-help, evasion, hitchhiking and transcendence. [1 1] From the perspective of national strategy, the two different opinions of American policymakers can be roughly classified as "hitchhiking" and "self-help surpassing" strategies respectively. Monroe and others initially advocated accepting Canning's suggestion and issuing a statement with Britain, with the help of British power to achieve the purpose of safeguarding Latin American independence and seeking American security. As Jefferson said, "We don't have to be afraid of Great Britain all over the world." [12] At that time, when the national strength of the United States was weak, it was an ideal choice, and it was reasonable to get the support of most people at the decision-making level in the United States. However, this strategy is a conservative and negative choice. For a big country that is full of energy and wants to make a difference, no major strategic choice can be tolerated. The Monroe Declaration announced a positive choice. It didn't agree with the British proposal, but ignored the invitation of the "superpower" at that time, and published its own independent opinions, which reflected the great power spirit of an emerging country. At the same time, it transcends the disputes between great powers and does not intervene in possible oppositions and conflicts between great powers. The Monroe Declaration does not target specific countries, nor does it make enemies for the United States. It catered to the needs of "pan-americanism" thought prevailing in Latin America at that time [13], so it was widely welcomed by Latin American countries at that time.

Monroe Doctrine shows the world that the United States has begun to exert influence on the world as an independent power, even though its national strength is still weak after half a century of independence. The Monroe Declaration aroused different reactions from the great powers, but in the end, the British scoundrels accepted Monroe Doctrine, holy alliance suffered a heavy blow and the United States won diplomatic victory. Excluding other evaluation factors, from the perspective of national interests and strategy, the Monroe Declaration is successful. In the later history, Monroe Doctrine shaped the foreign relations of the United States for more than a century in fact and diplomatic style, and the future development and strength of the United States can not be separated from the role of Monroe Doctrine.

Third, the international strategic enlightenment of Monroe Doctrine

Monroe Doctrine was published under the weak national strength of the United States, and its presentation and influence lasted for a long time, with the foresight of American policy makers at that time. From the perspective of national strategy, enlightenment is multifaceted, and its significance has gone beyond the Monroe Declaration and even international relations itself.

First of all, Monroe Doctrine embodies the positive influence of a country's advanced social system on foreign policy-making.

Fundamentally speaking, diplomacy is a continuation of a country's internal affairs, and the level of diplomacy is largely a reflection of the domestic political situation. Only an advanced and time-tested political system can stimulate the people's vigorous vitality. The advanced domestic political system will provide a suitable and efficient decision-making system for diplomacy, create a proactive diplomatic style, and be the source of strength for active diplomacy. Moreover, the attraction of the advanced system itself is a major advantage of diplomacy, and its role in attracting other countries to learn from their own systems and increase mutual trust is irreplaceable by material forces. On the contrary, the backward political system will restrict the initiative of diplomacy. On the one hand, the backward political system determines the backwardness of diplomatic decision-making system and the low administrative efficiency; On the other hand, the backward domestic political system often becomes the target of foreign diplomatic attacks, and the great energy of diplomats will be tied to explaining the rationality of the system, which will inevitably affect the strategic decision-making of diplomacy. It can be asserted that the strength of a country without institutional attraction will be greatly restricted and it will be difficult to grow into a long-term big country.

Ernst R. May once pointed out that "as far as Monroe Doctrine is concerned, my conclusion is that the result is best understood through domestic politics". [14] Adams' views were recognized and finally published in the form of Monroe Declaration, which is the product of the appropriate foreign policy-making system in the United States. Before the birth of the socialist system, democracy and institutions were the most advanced social systems. At that time, absolute monarchy was in an absolute dominant position in the world. At that time, the disadvantages of absolute monarchy were fully exposed, and there were signs of decline in western European countries. In contrast, it is the vitality and vigor of American democracy and system. American political elites and ordinary people are full of confidence in democracy and institutions. American isolationism includes the understanding of the superiority of democracy and system, and it is necessary to separate the unique system of the United States from the authoritarian system of the old continent. After all, the Monroe Declaration also contains an understanding of the superiority of its own political system. The "two hemispherism" and the "principle of non-expansion" in Monroe Doctrine are based on the completely different systems in Europe and America, including that the democracy and system established by the United States and the democracy and system that the United States hopes to establish in the newly independent countries of America are superior to the autocratic monarchy in the old continent; The latter means that the United States regards the attempt of European powers to expand their backward autocracy and colonial system to the United States as a threat to the "peace and security" of the United States and opposes the restoration of the old system by the Holy Alliance in Latin America. If there are advanced systems to choose from, we should not return to the backward system. "Non-colonial principle" and "non-interference principle" also contain some factors that think democracy and system are superior to authoritarian colonial system. It is not excluded that the Monroe Declaration issued by American policy makers when the national strength was at an absolute disadvantage at that time contained factors of full confidence in democracy and institutions, and the understanding of the superiority of the political system led to positive diplomatic actions, although "the material strength needed for the United States to play this role does not exist if further testing". [ 15]

Secondly, Monroe Doctrine is the continuation and development of the determination and confidence of American political elites to build a strong country.

Whether a country wants to strive for the status of a powerful country must be decided by itself. When the strength is weak, the country often chooses the strategy of "hitchhiking" to accumulate strength for the country's rise. However, if a country wants to eventually become a big country, especially an emerging leading country, it must show a vibrant national mentality before establishing its status as a big country, show a strong desire and confidence to pursue national strength among its citizens, especially the elite, and show a positive and promising attitude in its diplomatic style. Generally speaking, before the status of an emerging power is established, it should at least "behave like" a big country. On the premise of maintaining harmony with the existing international system, at some critical moments, with the help of some major events, we can clearly show the world our independent position as a big country, which not only declares to the world the influence that a country should have as a big country, because the success of a country's struggle for the status of a big country ultimately depends on the recognition of other countries, but also establishes a long-standing tradition for its diplomacy. The continuous diplomatic tradition of big countries is a strong and continuous driving force for the country. Of course, this is not to assume more responsibilities than the national strength allows, and to pursue international status that the national strength cannot reach.

In his farewell speech, Washington expressed his desire to build a "great country with freedom and progress" and set a "noble and novel example of the nation guided by justice and kindness" [16]. Building a new and powerful country is the constant pursuit of American political elites after the founding of the People's Republic of China, and the emerging United States shows signs of vigorous development. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the United States has been pursuing isolationism for a long time, not intervening in the disputes among powers, and wholeheartedly improving its own strength. However, in some major international events, the United States has begun to show its posture as an emerging power. In dealing with the French issue during the Great Revolution, during the 18 12 war between the United States and Britain, American diplomacy began to show its own characteristics, and the publication of the Monroe Declaration made the United States enter the international arena as a new power. Adams' opinion can be accepted by other American policy makers, which is influenced by Adams' personal factors. More importantly, Monroe and other decision makers share the same ideal of pursuing a strong country. "It was not Adams who established the vital belief through one person's struggle, but Monroe who formed the idea that the United States should be equal to Britain." [17] The posture of the United States as a great power is also fully reflected in the Monroe Declaration. "It (Monroe Doctrine) shows that the United States was already a big country in 1823, and this country has enjoyed today's respect." [18] Among other factors, the strong confidence and determination of domestic policy makers in the United States played a crucial role in the publication of the Monroe Declaration. In the case of overall isolationism, at the critical moment, American policymakers seized the opportunity, won the recognition of the powers, and created a continuing tradition. In fact, it was not until the publication of the Monroe Declaration that the United States began to be regarded as a great power by the great powers at that time, and its status as a great power was accepted by the great powers. Monroe Doctrine became a "cornerstone" of American diplomacy, which initiated a new tradition of American diplomacy and lasted for a long time. Mary Baker Ed wrote in 1923 The New York Times's article commemorating the 0/00th anniversary of Monroe Doctrine/KLOC-0: "I strictly believe in Monroe Doctrine, our Constitution and God's laws." [ 19]

Finally, emerging powers should lead international relations towards civilization and progress.

Throughout the development of the international community, we can see that the international community is moving towards civilization and progress, which has promoted the continuous progress and civilization of international relations. At the same time, the development of the international community is staged, and the international community has specific requirements for the behavior and moral standards of big countries in different historical periods. The existing powers maintain their status as great powers, and the rising of emerging powers will inevitably consciously or unconsciously make their own behavior and moral standards meet the requirements of the times and become a guide to the progress of the international relations system; A big country that can't meet the requirements of the progress of the times will eventually be abandoned by historical choices in the process of historical development. It is the inevitable result of historical progress that the international community has developed from the initial "everyone fighting for everyone" to today's relatively civilized state. [20] For an emerging power in the process of rising, it is necessary not only to strengthen its own strength, but also to introduce new norms for the international community in the field of international relations and lead the international relations of its era to civilization and progress. If this can be done, the country will be supported by moral power. At any time, the rise of emerging powers, especially the leading countries that create a new international era, cannot be separated from the support of moral power, which is ahead of schedule.

During the Monroe period, the international mainstream political system was absolute monarchy, the norms of international relations were balanced politics based on balance of power, and the colonial system prevailed. A big country rising in such an era should follow the existing norms of international civilization and promote the existing international civilization. American democracy and system have injected new choices into the international community and represented the development direction of that era. As mentioned above, this is a great advantage of American diplomacy. "The United States has never participated in the balance of power system in history", and the Monroe Declaration [2 1] contains the rejection of the balance of power system. When the powers were busy with the power struggle, the United States temporarily stayed out of it, which was beyond the universal norms of international relations at that time. Monroe Doctrine put forward the "decolonization principle", which adapted to the trend of Latin American countries seeking independence, played a role in preventing Latin America from resuming colonialism to a certain extent, won the recognition of independent Latin American countries, and was widely welcomed in Latin America at that time, which was the progress of international relations at that time. The principle of non-expansion and the principle of non-interference also had a great influence on other big countries accustomed to expansion and interference at that time, so conservative metternich cursed the Monroe Declaration as "an example of evil doctrine and danger". In the Monroe era, the Monroe Declaration represented the progressive direction of international relations civilization to a certain extent, and the intangible force of morality played a role in making up for the lack of strength of the United States.

Undeniably, Monroe Doctrine itself contains the ambition of the United States to control Latin America. In later history, Monroe Doctrine was continuously expanded by American expansionists and developed into a cover of American expansionism. Judging from the standards of international civilization today, it is desirable and necessary to condemn the norms of international relations it represents. This is also the reason why Monroe Doctrine cannot be affirmed.

Precautions:

[1] Dexter Perkins, The History of Monroe Doctrine, Little Brown Company, Boston, 1963, pp. 55-56.

[2] ibid., p57.

[3][ America] S F Bemis: American Diplomatic History, Beijing, The Commercial Press, 1985, p. 228.

[4][ America] Samuel Eliot Morrison and so on. : "The United States and the Growth of China", Tianjin People's Publishing House, 1980, p. 533.

[5][ English] C.W. Crowley et al. ed.: The History of New Cambridge: War and Peace in Turbulent Times: 1793- 1830, Beijing, China Social Sciences Press, 1999, p. 850.

[6] At that time, the accurate economic data of the United States and the great powers were not obtained, which was roughly calculated based on the data in paul kennedy's works. See [America] paul kennedy: The Rise and Fall of Great Powers, Beijing, Qiushi Publishing House, 1988, p. 18 1 page, table 6.

[7][ America] Allan Miller and Peter Maslowski: American Military History, Beijing, Military Science Press, 1989, p. 1 120.

[8] Xu Shicheng: "History of Relations between the United States and Latin America", Beijing, Social Sciences Academic Press, 1995, p. 30.

[9] Ernest R. May, The Formation of Monroe Doctrine, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1975, p 198.

[10] Wang shengzu: history of international relations:1814-1871,vol. 2, Beijing, World Knowledge Publishing House, 1993, pp. 63-.

[1 1] See Shi's International Politics: Theoretical Inquiry, Historical Review and Strategic Thinking, Beijing, Contemporary World Press, 2002, pp. 633-634.

Dexter Perkins, The History of Monroe Doctrine, Little Brown Company, Boston, 1963, p. 46.

[13] Kun Danila said: "pan-americanism really belonged to Latin America at first. Such as' US Congress',' National Congress',' General Confederacy',' General Congress',' Grand Confederacy',' Permanent Union and Federation',' American League',' the largest country in the world',' American Convention',' sincere Federation',' true American League' and' sister country group'. See Synonyms at [United States]

Ernest R. May, The Formation of Monroe Doctrine, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1975, preface.

Dexter Perkins, The History of Monroe Doctrine, Little Brown Company, Boston, 1963, p. 54.

[16][ America] George Washington: Farewell Speech, in Wang Jianhua and Jiang Rongjun: Speech of World Celebrities, Nanchang, Jiangxi People's Publishing House, 1995, p. 126.

Ernest R. May, The Formation of Monroe Doctrine, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1925, p. 202.

[18] Dexter Perkins, The History of Monroe Doctrine, Little Brown Company, Boston, 1963, pp. 54-55. The words in brackets were added by the author.

[19] quoted from Dexter Perkins, History of Monroe Doctrine, Little Brown Company, Boston, 1963, preface.

[20] See my essay: "A responsible view of a big country", in World Economy and Politics,No. 10, 2002, p. 72.

[2 1][ America] Henry Kissinger: Great Diplomacy, Haikou, Hainan Publishing House, 1998, p. 6.