During the first decade of the twenty first century, Latin America has shown itself to be a region with strong growth, stable financial markets, varying but quite vibrant democracies, and vital voices in a number of multilateral forums. Yet it still faces formidable challenges, including boosting economic competiveness, deepening socially inclusive democracies, and building state capacity to improve the lives of all 500 million citizens in the region. The Roundtable Series on Latin America looks broadly at the issues facing Latin American and U.S. policymakers in the coming years ahead, including strengthening the rule of law, physical infrastructure and human capacity building, taxation and governments' revenue stream, poverty and inequality, the potential for public-private partnerships, and capitalizing on energy resources across the region.

PURPOSE

Mexico is one of the United States' most important foreign policy relationships. No other nation directly affects U.S. stability, security, and prosperity across so many dimensions. Mexico increasingly influences (and is influenced by) U.S. domestic policy--no other country is as intertwined with the U.S. economy, environment, culture, and society. Although bilateral relations have always been significant to both nations due to the shared 2,000-mile border, the deepening of business, personal, cultural, and community relations over the last two decades have drawn the United States and Mexico closer. Yet on the tenth anniversary of Mexican democracy, it is still in the midst of change, still forging its global political, economic, and social identity. Will it continue to strengthen its democracy, grow its economy, and open its society, or will it fall into a downward spiral of dissatisfaction, violence, and instability?

The stakes for the United States are undeniably high, as its future, too, depends on Mexico's chosen path. While trade, migration, and organized crime and drug trafficking have long been featured on the bilateral agenda, American response to recent events--border violence, swine flu, trade disputes--reflect a profound misunderstanding and an absence of thoughtful analyses of the challenges and opportunities facing these two nations. Through research, consultations, publications, and outreach, this project aims to positively influence and shape U.S. policy on Mexico.

PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

The U.S.-Mexico Initiative includes roundtable meetings in New York and Washington; symposia; research and publications; consultations with government officials, private sector leaders, non-governmental organizations; and public outreach.

The U.S.-Mexico Roundtable Series

• Convenes policymakers, experts, and opinion-makers on Mexico's political and economic development and U.S.-Mexico relations, including economic integration, and security cooperation.
• Addresses timely issues in U.S.-Mexico relations, including issues of immigration, security, trade and economic development.

U.S.-Mexico Symposium

• Half-day conference that brings leading experts together to examine the causes and consequences of and policy responses to emerging challenges in U.S.-Mexico relations.

Research and scholarship by Dr. Shannon O'Neil

• The central publication of this project will be a book by Dr. O'Neil entitled, Intimate Strangers: The Mexico that America Doesn't Understand. The book argues for recognizing and embracing the broader strategic interests the United States shares with a transformed Mexico and lays out how the United States can invest in a true partnership based on legal immigration, economic development, and effective border and security cooperation.
• As part of the research and writing process for her book, Dr. O'Neil will convene a study group of select experts and practitioners to discuss her research.

Despite substantial structural reforms and market opening, Latin America continues to lag behind other developing regions. Trade and economic growth trail far behind both East and South Asia. Value-added and high technology exports remain minimal. Economic inequality rivals even the most troubled African nations, leaving the vast majority of the population without the resources to successfully integrate into an increasingly global marketplace. Limited opportunities at home are driving migratory flows north, changing the economies, societies and polities of both the sending Latin American countries and the main receiving country, the United States. Politically, the narrow gains from globalization are placing democracy at risk. The recent electoral prominence of outsider, populist, and even authoritarian candidates reflects the growing apathy and distrust of citizens, due in large part to the economic exclusion of Latin America's majorities from the benefits of globalization.

The Globalization and Democracy Roundtable Series will look broadly at the issues facing Latin American and U.S. policymakers. Drawing on the experience of practitioners and experts from the public sector, academia, and the private sector, it will systematically examine a range of related issues, including the state of Latin America's social contract, the rule of law, the informal sector, the digital divide, physical infrastructure and human capacity building, taxation and governments' revenue stream, poverty and inequality, the potential for public-private partnerships, and the potential for energy resources to redress social exclusion.

This series is made possible by the generous support of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Ford Foundation.