Myths of Hemispheric, Continental, Regional, and State Unity

Abstract

One of more enduring and consequential myths of human relations is assumption that groups who dwell on a single land mass share certain common interests and traits because of that territorial contiguity, even though groups in question may be separated by great distances.1 An illustration of this phenomenon is offered by phrase popularly ascribed to United States relations with Latin America in post-1933 period, the Good Neighbor Policy. By term neighbor, U.S. leaders were obviously implying existence of a special relationship based upon a concept of relative proximity. Among neighbors were so-called ABC states of Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. Beyond pale of neighborhood were such states as United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Liberia, and U.S.S.R. Yet, in navigable distances, each of these states was closer to United States than was any of ABC group.2 Con-