The United States’ Impact on Panama and the Panama Canal: An Intervention Case Study

Abstract

This paper investigates the history of the Panama Canal and how United States (U.S.) intervention has impacted its growth. The frame of this study (1983-2005) is a time-period that experienced two substantial U.S. interventions within Panama - the removal of the Panamanian leader, General Manuel Noriega, and the transition of sovereignty over the Canal from the U.S. to Panamanian power. This paper looks to explore these two isolated interventions in correlation with changes in economic growth within the Canal Zone. The results of this study will retrospectively demonstrate whether intervention stagnated or boosted economic growth within the Panama Canal, a clear indicator of how U.S. interference impacted Panama. On a larger scale, this study aims to highlight the specific economic impacts of intervention and how future interventional policies may improve based upon past success or failures.