Talk:Banana republic

Old talks at Talk:Bananaland. Kaihsu 19:06 Apr 14, 2003 (UTC)

Needs rewriting

This article is complete and accurate in that it largely sidesteps the role of the United Fruit Company and their role in fomenting political unrest in countries whose policies didn't favor its bottom line, and their brutal labor practices. This is important for several reasons. First of all, it is important to be historically accurate. Secondly, the way the article is written is quite offensive, with the so-called "backward" countries seeming to carry all the responsibility for the condition under which they operate (when in fact, if we are being historically accurate, this is not true). But lastly, it is also important for the simple fact that the very word "banana" in the phrase "banana republic" is not just randomly based on the "backwards" economies of bananas, but specifically on the export crop forced upon them by United Fruit. Also, the bit about the mops on the shoulders is ridiculous and again offensive. I tried to make changes to capture all of this a while back, but got a note that my changes were not "productive" and had been reverted. Maybe someone else wants to take a stab at revising the incomplete and offensive qualities of this article. This article and the two books it is in review of are good source material. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.135.175.21 (talk) 22:48, 27 December 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Horrors of Capitalism

"United Fruit...created company towns...brought in roads, railroads, hired thousands of workers but with that they also brought all the horrors of capitalism"

That doesn't sound very NPOV to me...--74.120.133.109 20:12, 12 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

No mention of Miami after Elian Gonzalez?

Why no mention of Miami after Elian Gonzalez? That generated vast quanitites of banans thrown onto the steps of City Hall, and even a "Banana Republic of Miami" flag: http://flagspot.net/flags/us-fl-br.html AnonMoos 23:28, 25 October 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Why is the store called Banana Republic?

Why did the founders of the clothing store call it Banana Republic?

I think Banana Republic is meant to be a "lifestyle brand" (see Nautica, Abercrombie & Fitch, etc.), and the lifestyle being sold here is of the elite playing in their Banana Republics without a care in the world.67.180.27.77 08:25, 27 December 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Keating

This statement itself, according to the economic statistics over the next year, caused a significant effect on the Australian economy.

Which statistics? How did they single out the effects of this statement from the many other influences on the economy (the Iran-Iraq war, the revolution in the Philippines, the Chernobyl disaster, etc.)?

If anyone can find a source to back this up, please add it. Kewpid 12:17, 22 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I removed the following text "The statement had an immediate impact on the value of the Australian dollar and, according to the economic statistics over the next year, had a significant effect on the broader Australian economy." as it amounts to the pretty serious accusation that Keating involuntarily sabotaged his own economy through flippant language. If it can be sourced, then return it.I elliot 10:14, 8 August 2006 (UTC)[reply]

He sort of did, but I can only find a simple reference to the "immediate impact" on the dollar. Mark Hurd (talk) 15:07, 1 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

FFII - Link to EU Council website

In the FFII quote, the term 'Banana Republic' is linked to the homepage of the EU Council. This seems to be a popular technique to increase the Google rating for this combination, and, although I also am highly annoyed by the way things are done there at the moment, I dont think Wikipedia should take side in this debate and/or lend itself for this Google boosting thing.

  I very much suspect that both the FFII paragraph and the link were the actions of
  an anti-software patent person; the FFII refer to the 'banana union' on their
  website. The included quote seems more about selling their cause than enlightening
  anyone as to the meaning of the term 'banana republic' and the third paragraph 
  also seems very POV. I suggest, in my capacity as an anonymous coward, that it's
  removed.

>>>>>

Dunno about the software patents, but the "The American Empire: A Banana Republic?" is basically a polemic rant. I suggest reading it for yourself and deciding if it is an appropriate link.

Banana Republic

It has generally been my understanding that, in addition to strong influence by foreign governments/interests and general political instability, another important element of a banana republic is the economic system, namely one based on the export of natural resources, with little infrastructure or development. Am I the only one whose heard of this factor? I guess I'll see if I can find any sources that talk about it in more detail.

Bulgaria was sometimes called a Tomato Republic due to its previous domination by the Soviet Union and its dependence on agricultural exports. --Vladko 04:26, 5 January 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I think of the term as focused primarily on the exploitation of small Latin American countries by major U.S. ag corporations, such as United Fruit. Such as that the fruit company more or less owns and operates the entire country. I don't really think of it as a pejorative term for unstable Latin countries, rather a loaded term indicting these major corporations. In that sense, I think the introductory paragraph could use work.

Vancouver as a Banana Republic

This may seem a bit racist (though it shouldn't be since I'm half Asian), but referring to Vancouver as a Banana Republic could also refer to the fact that the city has a large landed Chinese population. Banana refers to the people who are "yellow on the outside and white on the inside". This often refers to the children of Chinese or Asian immigrants who go through North American school systems and are raised in North American culture.

The statement, "The coastal areas of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, for example, are referred to as the Banana Republic of Canada," seems, at the very least, too strong. I'm from Vancouver, and have NEVER (in 36 years) heard it referred to as a banana republic. Is there any evidence supporting this contention? sh

Independent state

There are no web-based references to the Banana Republic as breakaway state due to deliberate stifling of information by the Australian government. There are several refrences to the formation of the republic self-published in dead tree format, and circulated around Sydney in many zine circles. The original constitution is still on display in Nani City, and there are several copies floaring around elsewhere in the republic. Before modifying the article please discuss here first. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 202.40.202.125 (talk • contribs).

So the Australian government has the power to censor the entire Internet worldwide, even sites that are hosted outside Australia? I'm impressed... Demiurge 20:11, 14 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]
- I have reverted it again. This is nonsense. There are numerous attack websites against John Howard which are freely operating.Blnguyen | Have your say!!! 01:44, 15 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Wrong Page layout

It appears to me that this page is laid out based on a linguistic layout, i.e. the places where that phrase or term appears. The fact is, the main usage of this term (denoting a country who's political scene is dominated by a Multinational Corp which controls its major commodity markets) is a political concept, and not just a linguistic term.

Surely what is needed is a layout which gives headings for each and every Banana Republic that has existed, and evidence of this. References in popular culture can take a small part at the bottom. (The Gap subsid. can be ignored as it has it's own page).

Consider the alternative

Consider the fate of the Banana Republics without foreign investment. Revolutions very often were expropriatory in nature.

Walter E. Wallis

banana republic

Why does a search for banana republic go straight to the clothing brand? I would imagine this article is of higher importance. At the minimum, it should go to disambiguation page. Any comments? 65.167.146.130 (talk) 21:55, 14 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Central American Countries =

Such as Poland? Maybe you guys have different maps to me. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.16.97.233 (talk) 16:38, 16 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

It's rewritten now. The countries stayed the same, but now it reads better and accordingly to maps.

Why is Poland called a banana republic anyway? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 194.63.132.6 (talk) 21:36, 25 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Gas/ Diamond republic?

Coined the name myself. What would you call states that rely on a specific type of natural resource (not agriculture)? Say certain western client states in Africa (gold/diamonds) or certain western client states in middle east (gas/oil).

-G