U.S.-Mexico Inititative

Director: Shannon K. O'Neil, Douglas Dillon Fellow for Latin America Studies
December 1, 2010 - Present

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.

Meetings

Roundtable Meeting

Mexico's War on Drugs: The Road Ahead

Speaker: Alejandro Poiré, Secretary of Mexico's National Security Council and Cabinet
Presider: Shannon K. O'Neil, Council on Foreign Relations
December 8, 2010