Donald Trump and others are mistakenly calling the United States a Banana Republic.
By Definition
According to Merriam Webster, a Banana Republic is “a country that is exploited by foreign interests for profit and whose economy typically depends on a single major export (such as bananas); also a country ruled by a despot usually backed by the military.”
First Use
American author O. Henry (William S. Porter) coined the term “Banana Republic” in his book Cabbages and Kings (1904), about the fictional country of Anchuria. It was based of his experiences in Honduras in 1890, where he lived for several months while on the lam for embezzling money from the bank where he worked to pay the medical treatment for his wife. While in Honduras, O. Henry witnessed the exploitation of small Central American nations by U.S. corporations, most notably the United Fruit Company.
Common and Correct Use
Historically, the term was used to describe Central American and Caribbean countries with single-crop (monoculture) economies that were dominated by the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
“Banana Republic” Will Never Economically Apply to the U.S
The United States has a dynamic and diverse economy that is dominated by a billionaire class of native-born and naturalized American citizens. While foreign interests attempt to interfere in our elections and some foreign interests are involved in our economy, there is no foreign domination.
Current Use
Candidate Trump first used the term in October 2016. “This election will determine whether we remain a free country in the truest sense of the word or we become a corrupt banana republic controlled by large donors and foreign governments.” Robby Mook, campaign manager for Hillary Clinton responded, “Donald Trump thinks that the Presidency is like some banana republic dictatorship where you can lock up your political opponents.” The term has been thrown around ever since.
Donald Trump is notorious for accusing others of the very things he is doing.
If Donald Trump achieves his professed goals of ousting the career generals he labels as “woke” and replacing them with sycophants loyal to him alone, we will be ruled by a despot backed by the military.
What does the future hold?
We still have a democracy, albeit a flawed one due to voter suppression, gerrymandering, the influence of big money, party manipulation to suppress candidates like Bernie Sanders, and the electoral college.
What if?
- Trump uses the Justice Department to round up and incarcerate his political opponents: Joe Biden (and his crime family), Kamala Harris, Hillary and Bill Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, Chuck Schumer, Liz Chaney, and others.
- Trump suppresses the media by shutting down networks and shows that criticize him?
- Trump uses the military to arrest or attack peaceful protesters?
These are all tactics used by “Banana Republic” despots.
The term is evolving.
In 2020, Robin Wright published an article in the New Yorker, “Is America Becoming a Banana Republic?” Wright states, “Over the past century, ‘banana republic’ has evolved to mean any country (with or without bananas) that has a ruthless, corrupt, or just plain loopy leader who relies on the military and destroys state institutions in an egomaniacal quest for prolonged power.” Wright notes that respected generals and historians are concerned about America’s future. Retired lieutenant general and former NATO ambassador Doug Lout expressed concern over “Trump’s use of the military for political purposes,” particularly when General Mark Milley, while dressed in fatigues, accompanied President Trump to St. John’s Church where Trump held up a Bible. This absurd escapade was a response to peaceful protests over the police killing of George Floyd. Afterwards, on the MSNBC show Morning Joe, then Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi questioned, “What is this, a banana republic?” In response, Yale historian David Blight said, “We’re not quite there yet. But we may be on the verge of becoming a banana republic. It was correct of her to ask the question.”
(c) Joyce O’Day 2024. All Rights Reserved.
AI was NOT used in the creation of this article.
Joyce O’Day 