Global Intrigues: The Era of the Spanish-American War and the Rise of the United States to World Power (review)

Global Intrigues: The Era of the Spanish-American War and the Rise of the United States to World Power, written by Juan R. Torruella, is a short, concise and well documented summary of the geopolitical situation and the views and sympathies of the major economic powers exploiting the resources of the world during the latter part of the 19th century. It also encompasses, as specified in the title, the intrigues in which the major non-belligerent powers engaged before, during and immediately after the Spanish-American War. The thrust of the book is the manner in which the United States slowly forced itself into the exclusive club of the major world powers at the end of the 19th century and entered the realm of world domineering states through an event which, to most people in that country, was a minor or insignificant event. At the end of the century some of the existing empires were on the rise, as was the case of Germany, Japan and the United States. At the peak were the British, the French, and the Portuguese. Russia was at its height, but its expansion was just in Asia, while the others, the Ottoman, Chinese, Austro-Hungarian and Spanish Empires were in decline or in decay. All, to a larger or minor extent, participated in an attempt to prevent the outbreak of the hostilities. Some, like Germany and Japan, stood on the sidelines during the War trying to obtain some advantage of the outcome. And, again, to a larger or lesser extent, they all exercised some influence during the peace negotiations.

The first half of the first chapter of the book is devoted to a brief description of the major powers, their strength, weaknesses and spheres of influence. The second half is dedicated to the growth of the United States and its development of a “Darwinian [type of] imperialism—a combination of geopolitics, religious righteousness and just plain commercial entrepreneurship—to justify its territorial aggrandizement and the conquering, subjugation and absorption of other people” (p. 28). At the end of the nineteenth century, the United States is sufficiently strong to pick a fight with a decaying power in what appears to be an insignificant war of a localized nature. However, its impact would be felt beyond the small theater of war, for it not only extended its effect to the participants on a short term basis but it also resulted in a long lasting geopolitical impact throughout the world.

The European nations were uneasy with the expanding role being played by the United States, with the exception of Britain; their sympathies were with Spain. France and Germany, for example, viewed the United States as insolent or as an “American Menace” or “The American Peril.” The Latin American countries, fully aware of the propensity of the United States to use force to promote its national interest, particularly, after the Mexican War, remained officially and cautiously neutral before, during and after the war. That caution or fear of the giant from the North was openly justified as demonstrated by the continuous interventions and unjustifiable use of force during the twentieth century.

When referring to the Spanish-American War, many people think of the sinking of the Maine or the noble mission of freeing the Cuban people from Spanish oppression, but most people forget the Philippines. This was an essential part of the war effort. Why would the United States want to grab a small group of islands on the other side of the Pacific? The acquisition of the Philippines provided an “imposing strategy advantage” in protecting the interest of the United States on the other side of the world (p. 164). This military presidio on the fringe of mainland China was a stepping stone to all Asian markets, since its conquest changed the...