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Brazil and Mexico in Comparative Perspective CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by Calhoun, Institutional Archive of the Naval Postgraduate School Calhoun: The NPS Institutional Archive Faculty and Researcher Publications Faculty and Researcher Publications Collection 2009-06 Different paths and divergent policies in the UN security system: Brazil and Mexico in comparative perspective Sotomayor Velaquez, Arturo C. Taylor & Francis International Peacekeeping, v. 16, no. 3, June 2009, pp. 364-378 http://hdl.handle.net/10945/47533 Volume 16 Number 3 June 2009 INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING Editor: Michael Pugh, University of Bradford Co-editors: Nina Graeger, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, Oslo Edward luck, International Peace Institute, NY Assistant Editor: Mandy Turner, University of Bradford Reviews Editor: Nana Pob, University of Bradford EDITORIAL BOARD Adekeye Adebajo. Centre for Conflict Peter Viggo Jakobsen, University of Resolution, Capt' Town Copenhagen, Denmark Dipankar Banerjcc:, Maj.-Gen. (Retd), Institute of Peace Alan James, Cheshire, UK and ConfliCt Srudies, New Delhi Kara:J Mmsst, University of Xenrucky Mati Bcrdai, King's College London Susumu Takai. Nationallnstitute for Defense Michael Doyle, Princeton University Studies, Tokyo TreyOJ' FiodIay, Carleton University, Canada Sir Brian Urquhan, New York Feu Osler Hampson. Carleton University, Canada Tom Woodhouse, University of Bradford Birger Heldt, Folke Bernadotte Academy, Sweden Articles appearing in this journal are abstracred and indexed in Politi",l Sdence Abstracts, Intenrati011al Politi",l Scierlc;e Abstracts, HistoriC4l AbstrQd5 tUld Amen",: HIStory and Life, the !...ancaJt" Index to Defence and IntemdtiomJl Security Lit· "atJlre, the lntemationa/ Bibliography of the Soddl Sciences, ABC·CLlO·Hilton",l Abstracts, and ABC·CLlO·Amen",: History and Life. 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US Postmaster: Please send address changes to FINP, clo Ody5seY I'res$, Inc., PO Box 7307, Gonic NH 03839, Addreu Service Requested. lnterndtional PeacekeepiNg is a refereed journaL Amhors should consult the Notes for Contributors at the back of the journal before submitting their final draft. The editors cannot accept responsibility for any damage to or loss of manuscripts. Statements of fact or opinion appearing in InternatioNal Peacekeeping are soJeJy those of the authors and do not imply endorsement by thr editors or publisher. Published in February, April, June, August and November USPS pennit number 022263 © 2009 Taylor &: Francis 4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 4RN, UK TeL: +44 (0)207 017 6000; Fax: +44 (0)207 2017 6336; Email: [email protected] Website: www.tandf.co.uk Printed by OdylSey Press Inc., USA Different Paths and Divergent Policies in the UN Security System: Brazil and Mexico in Comparative Perspective ARTURO C. SOTOMAYOR VELAzQUEZ How can we explain foreign policy variation among UN member states? Brazil and Mexico are the most likely cases for international primacy in the UN system, given their territorial dimension, demographic tendencies, economic importance, geo political location and rela­ tive weight in Latin America. Yet, despite their structural similarities, their policies and behaviour jn the UN system have varled~ both in terms of engagement with the Security Council and commirment regarding peacekeeping. By comparing two of Latin America's most influential countries, this study identifies the underlying conditions and mechanisms that explain their differences in behaviour and policy in the UN. In particular, this article analyses and contrasts how geopolitics and civil-military relations in Brazil and Mexico affect their incentives to participate in international organizations and their overall inter­ national commitment to peace. Brazil and Mexico are among Latin America's largest and most powerful states. They share many structural similarities, including the region's largest mHitary forces and biggest economies, as well as regional influence - Brazil in the Southern Cone of South America and Mexico in Central America. They also have similar political systems, with the presidents vested with the power to conduct foreign policy, and with a hierarchically organized career Foreign Service, complemented by intermediate political appointments. Given these simi­ larities, they are relevant cases for study. However, the two countries have histori­ cally evinced different forms of foreign policy behaviour and international roles. Nowhere are rhese differences more evident than in the UN system, in which both countries have followed different paths. For instance, Brazil has been a major UN troop contributor, an active non-permanent member of the Security Council and a serious candidate for a permanent position. In cootras .. ., Mexico has resisted armed engagement under the UN flag, and has rarely occupied a non-permanent seat on the Security Council. In fact, it has not shown interest in becoming a per­ manent member of the Council. These differences are even more puzzling given the trends and developments in the post-cold War era. Both Brazil and Mexico witnessed the re-emergence of regionalism in the Americas; and the democratiza­ tion of their respective political systems. In many ways, regionalism and democra· tization should provide an especially potent impetus to join international organizations, since the latter can often help transitional states credibly carty out democratic reforms and assume international commitments. 1 Yet whereas Internatlonal Peacekeeplng, VoL 16. No.3, June 2009, pp.364-378 ISSN 1353·33 I2 print/1743-906X online DOIolO.1080/13533310903036418 f!) 2009 Taylor &; Francis BRAZIL AND MEXICO IN COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE 365 Brazil appears to assume an international leadership role, Mexico's diplomacy has been characterized by caution and distaste for a protagonist role in the UN security system. This article examines their varied approaches towards UN collective security and peacekeeping. It will focus primarily on the period from 1990 to 2005, which enables the collapse of the Soviet bloc to be held as a constant systemic variable. It also helps to analyse how democratization processes, which occurred in 1988 in Brazil and 2000 in Mexico, affected outcomes. Two arguments are developed to explain the policy differences in the UN system. First, Mexico's less assertive UN diplomacy is in part a consequence of its geopolitical proximity to the United States. Those areas where Mexico might exert the most impact in the UN system are also well within the US sphere of influence, so the country's performance is constrained by the over­ whelming presence of its northern neighbour. By contrast, Brazil is more distant from US hegemony, providing
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