James F. Siekmeier
Assistant Professor
Ph.D. Cornell University, 1993
MA, Cornell University, 1989
BA, Oberlin College, 1984, with honor
Teaching Fields: U.S. History, U.S. Diplomatic History, United States-Latin American Relations, Modern Latin American History.
Research Interests:
In my book Aid Nationalism and Inter-American Relations: Guatemala, Bolivia, and the United States, 1945-1961 (Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen Press, 1999) I discussed how U.S. foreign policy makers in the Cold War viewed Latin American economic nationalism--Latin American nations' attempts to control international economic activity within their country--as a threat. As such, Washington leaders aimed to thwart Latin American economic nationalism by undermining governments that opposed U.S. interests; and they supported, through generous U.S. government economic assistance, Latin American governments that promoted pro-United States policies.
In the book manuscript I am completing, tentatively entitled From Ike to Che: The Bolivian Revolution and the United States, 1945-1971, I investigate the multifaceted relationship between the most powerful nation in the world and one of world's poorer nations, Bolivia. Despite the asymmetry of power, Bolivia's relationship with the United States has been a two-way street. Obtaining economic assistance from Washington, some Bolivian leaders used it to bolster their own particular political interests. Some Bolivian leaders have skillfully used Bolivia's chronic political instability to obtain increased U.S. support. These officials informed their counterparts in Washington that Bolivia could be on the verge of political collapse--unless U.S. leaders gave increased assistance--which then was quickly forthcoming. Moreover Bolivian leaders have resisted Washington's attempts to promote U.S. culture into Bolivia, such as when Bolivia abruptly asked U.S. Peace Corps volunteers to leave in 1971. Bolivian leaders disagreed with Peace Corps policy of promoting population/birth control; Bolivian officials thought limiting Bolivia's population would weaken the nation in the long run.
Selected Publications
"Persistent Condor and Predatory Eagle: Bolivian Relaltions with the United States, 1952-1964," essay published in Statler, Kathryn C., and Johns, Andrew L., eds., The Eisenhower Administration, the Third World, and the Globalization of the Cold War,Rowman and Littlefield (2006).
"Politics, Access, and History: The Chile Declassification Project of 1998-2000," Hemisphere (October 2004).
"Trailblazer Diplomat: Victor Andrade Uzquiano's Efforts to Influence U.S. Policy, 1944-1962," Diplomatic History 28 (June 2004).
"Bolivia," in the South American Handbook, (London: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, 2002).
"A Sacrificial Llama? The Expulsion of the Peace Corps from Bolivia in 1971," Pacific Historical Review 69 (February 2000).
Hist 242 Latin America: Reform and Revolution
