University of New Mexico UNM Digital Repository NotiCen Latin America Digital Beat (LADB) 7-8-1987 Anti-u.s. Sentiment In Panama: Brief Summary Of Historical Basis Deborah Tyroler Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/noticen Recommended Citation Tyroler, Deborah. "Anti-u.s. Sentiment In Panama: Brief Summary Of Historical Basis." (1987). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/ noticen/744 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Latin America Digital Beat (LADB) at UNM Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in NotiCen by an authorized administrator of UNM Digital Repository. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. LADB Article Id: 076448 ISSN: 1089-1560 Anti-u.s. Sentiment In Panama: Brief Summary Of Historical Basis by Deborah Tyroler Category/Department: General Published: Wednesday, July 8, 1987 Panama is literally a global crossroads, which explains in large part its distinctiveness from other Central American countries. In contrast to Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras, for example, Panama is primarily an urbanized, service economy. About 60% of the country's gross domestic product derive from trade, finance and transportation services. Over half the country's population resides in Panama City and Colon, one at either end of the Panama Canal. The Canal splits the country in half geographically, and of course, has been at the center of Panamanian politics and economy. A brief summary of the country's history follows, providing at least a broad stroke background for understanding Panamanian sensitivity to US policy, and US politicians' remarks. From the time that Colombia won its independence from Spain in 1821, establishing its rule in Panama was problematic.