The Monroe Doctrine in an Age of Global History.

This article examines the Monroe Doctrine, originally articulated in U.S. President James Monroe's 1823 annual message to Congress, arguing that it was initially an inconsequential statement with no direct impact on Atlantic geopolitics. Over two centuries, the Doctrine evolved into a contested political symbol, appropriated by diverse actors to support conflicting agendas ranging from isolationism to imperialism, and shaped by domestic politics, gendered narratives, and historiographical interpretations. The article situates the Doctrine within broader nineteenth-century Atlantic diplomatic and print cultures, highlighting its invention as a nationalist tradition rather than a coherent policy, and traces its fluctuating relevance through the twentieth century and into the present, including its global appropriations by U.S. rivals and its resurgence amid contemporary geopolitical rivalries and domestic cultural conflicts. Ultimately, the Monroe Doctrine is portrayed as a durable, mutable symbol whose significance lies more in its political and cultural uses than in its original text or immediate historical effects.