The U.S.-UN roundtable meeting series seeks to organize high-level discussions with senior United Nations officials, including officials from member states and regional organizations, on timely issues related to conflict prevention, peacekeeping, and international security. A core group of selected invitees from member state governments, the private sector, and nongovernmental communities participate in these discussions. The goal of these meetings is to raise awareness of the role of the United Nations in addressing critical issues of peace and security. This meeting series is cosponsored by CFR's Center for Preventive Action and the Program on International Institutions and Global Governance.

The United States has a fundamental stake in a more effective UN system--that is, improving the UN's many specialized agencies, departments, and programs. In the Making Multilateralism Work workshop series, the International Institutions and Global Governance (IIGG) program will engage U.S. and UN officials on practical steps to improve the UN system's performance in priority areas, including international peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, and human rights. Each workshop will culminate in a meeting report and a briefing memo with recommendations for the U.S. government.

This workshop series is made possible by the generous support of the Robina Foundation.

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.

From the Atlantic to the Gulf of Oman, the Middle East is witnessing unprecedented change and transformation. At this pivotal time of popular uprisings, revolutions, and ongoing efforts toward Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking, this roundtable series seeks to generate a deeper, richer understanding of the vast array of issues currently shaping the region. To this end, the series brings together policymakers, opinion leaders, and government officials with the most intimate knowledge of the Middle East to enrich the dialogue both on developments in the region and U.S. policy.

The Global Stakes in Human Rights Roundtable Series examines the tangible interests of the United States and international community in promoting political, civil, economic, and labor rights.

Bringing together regular participants of diverse sectors and ideological positions, it identifies best practices of international institutions, governments, nonprofits, and corporations to advance democratic pluralism and the rule of law.

The U.S. Foreign Policy Roundtable Series is an ongoing series that provides a forum for discussion with leading experts on the major issues and developments that impact U.S. foreign policy. The series has covered a broad range of topics, such as domestic and international counterterrorism efforts, the global financial crisis, evolving media coverage of international news developments, and U.S. policy in the Greater Middle East, especially in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.

As nations across the world face the realities of unprecedented population aging, this series examines the resulting policy challenges. As large numbers of people age into retirement at the same time, what will it mean for health, work, and financial security? Are governments ready for this coming demographic trend? Similarly, are global institutions such as the G8 and G20 prepared to face the global implications of a graying world? This series of discussions will serve as a venue for policymakers, scholars, business professionals, and journalists to exchange ideas and reach conclusions on the challenges presented by what has been characterized as a "slow-burning fuse."


Ambassador Apakan's remarks, with brief introduction from Michael Hodin, from the meeting titled "Population Aging and Development: Opportunities for Economic Growth" held on September 7, 2012 can be found here.

This roundtable series brings together senior financial experts from the private sector and the academic world to discuss ideas presented by a guest speaker on a pressing topic in international economics.

This project is made possible by a generous grant from the Robina Foundation.

The ExxonMobil Women and Development Series explores the ways in which governments, companies, and NGOs can promote economic development by focusing on women. With the generous support of the ExxonMobil, the series has so far examined such topics as women's role as change agents in the aftermath of the financial crisis and the potential of new technologies to promote women's economic empowerment in developing countries. Transcripts, audio, and video recordings of meetings in this series are available below.

This roundtable series brings together policymakers, scholars, and private sector specialists to explore the growing threats in cyberspace to the U.S. economy and security.