The Ideology of Creole Revolution
Imperialism and Independence in American and Latin American Political Thought

This book explores the surprising similarities in the political ideas of the American and Latin American independence movements.

Joshua Simon (Author)

9781316610961, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 6 June 2017

284 pages
22.7 x 15.2 x 1.5 cm, 0.42 kg

'With sophisticated textual analysis, historical sensitivity, and stylistic flair, Joshua Simon provides a useful contribution to the growing field of Comparative Political Theory. At last we see clearly the linkages that make the Americas a unified region in terms of political ideas, and which undermine the notion of American exceptionalism. The work is a welcome addition to the historical literature that shows how present US developments are closely connected to the core logic of power made visible through a Latin American lens.' Diego A. von Vacano, Texas A & M University

The American and Latin American independence movements emerged from distinctive settings and produced divergent results, but they were animated by similar ideas. Patriotic political theorists throughout the Americas offered analogous critiques of imperial rule, designed comparable constitutions, and expressed common ambitions for their new nations' future relations with one another and the rest of the world. This book adopts a hemispheric perspective on the revolutions that liberated the United States and Spanish America, offering a new interpretation of their most important political ideas. Simon argues that the many points of agreement among various revolutionary political theorists across the Americas can be attributed to the problems they encountered in common as Creoles - that is, as the descendants of European settlers born in the Americas. He illustrates this by comparing the political thought of three Creole revolutionaries: Alexander Hamilton of the United States, Simón Bolívar of Venezuela, and Lucas Alamán of Mexico.

1. Introduction: the ideas of American independence in comparative perspective
2. The ideology of Creole revolution
3. Alexander Hamilton in hemispheric perspective
4. Simón Bolívar and the contradictions of Creole revolution
5. The Creole conservatism of Lucas Alamán
6. The end of Creole revolution
7. Conclusion: from the Creole revolutions to our Americas.

Subject Areas: Revolutions, uprisings, rebellions [HBTV], National liberation & independence, post-colonialism [HBTR], History of the Americas [HBJK]