As the preface of this book indicates, there are numerous histories of the Panama Canal and of United States-Panamanian relations but few concerning the Republic of Panama itself. Professor Pippin has tried to rectify this situation and within the limits of his topic he has done a good job. The events that he discusses are fairly recent, but he has amassed an impressive bibliography of newspapers, periodicals, public documents, and published background accounts. To these sources may be added more than three years which he spent in Panama conducting interviews with individuals who had lived through the decade of his book.
Although this is primarily a political history, the limitation is no defect, since politics seem to be fundamental to all of Panama’s problems. Professor Pippin’s analysis of the Panamanian political scene is discouraging but, I believe, valid. He demonstrates that Panamanian politics are characterized by personalismo and by a depressing lack of concern for the general welfare. He argues convincingly that Panama does not need political reform since its constitution is democratic and contains the guarantees required for a free society. Instead it needs reform of its politicians, because the latter operate in a “closed society” and use their political positions to enrich themselves shamelessly. For this reason, José Antonio Remón emerges as something of a hero in Dr. Pippin’s account. Although Remón was a strongman and probably shared in the profits from racketeering, prostitution, and the narcotics traffic, which have been the spoils of Panamanian political office, Professor Pippin believes that he tried to bring order and substance to Panamanian politics with a program of governmental efficiency and even honesty, fiscal responsibility, education, and land reform. Remón also showed a high degree of statesmanship in dealing with the problem of revising the canal treaty. Although it cannot be stated categorically that Remón was murdered because he tried to raise the level of Panamanian politics, one may understand from Professor Pippin’s account how an assassin could murder Remón without being punished. On the other hand, it is encouraging that a Remón could emerge from Panama’s oligarchy, and that he even gave promise of personal reform. In the future, if the oligarchy cannot produce another leader with similar programs and disinterest, power will slip from its grasp. While this book does not describe in detail contemporary social and economic conditions in Panama, what it does mention foreshadows a profound social upheaval.
Since this study is a doctoral dissertation, it lacks some polish and bears the scars of having to satisfy that most diabolical of man’s creations, the doctoral committee, but this is only a minor defect. In fact, the committee should be congratulated for encouraging Dr. Pippin to publish his valuable piece of work.