Reflections on North American Imperialism: Colombian Agricultural Policy and United States Influence in the 1930s

This article studies the influence of the United States in Colombian agricultural policy in the 1930s. In that decade, diplomats and businessmen from the United States actively participated in the legislative initiatives that were being developed in Colombia, with the objective of protecting their direct interests, stopping the expansion of communism, promoting new business opportunities, and expanding the commercial networks which existed in the country. Despite their influence, representatives from the United States did not always oppose attempts to enact agrarian reforms and, occasionally, were unable to stop initiatives that were contrary to their interests.