DOCSLIB.ORG

The Estrada Doctrine: the Resilience and Evolution of a Key Instrument of Mexican Foreign Policy

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Estrada Doctrine: the Resilience and Evolution of a Key Instrument of Mexican Foreign Policy Master’s Thesis 2020 30 ECTS Noragric The Estrada Doctrine: The Resilience and Evolution of a Key Instrument of Mexican Foreign Policy Luis Ignacio Gutierrez Reyes Retana MSc International Relations The Estrada Doctrine: The Resilience and Evolution of a Key Instrument of Mexican Foreign Policy June 2020 NMBU By: Luis Ignacio Gutierrez Reyes Retana 1 The Department of International Environment and Development Studies, NORAGRIC, is the international gateway for the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU). Established in 1986, NORAGRIC’s contribution to international development lies in the interface between research, education (Bachelor, Master and PhD programs) and assignments. The NORAGRIC Master thesis is the final thesis submitted by students in order to fulfil the requirements under the NORAGRIC Master program “International Environmental Studies”, “Development Studies” and “International Relations”. The findings in this thesis do not necessarily reflect the views of NORAGRIC. Extracts from this publication may only be reproduced after prior consultation with the author and on condition that the source is indicated. For rights of reproduction or translation contact NORAGRIC. © Luis Ignacio Gutierrez Reyes Retana, June, 2020 [email protected] NORAGRIC Department of International Environment and Development Studies The Faculty of Landscape and Society P.O. Box 5003 N-1432 Ås Norway Phone: +47 67 23 00 00 Fax: +47 67 23 06 91 Website: https://www.nmbu.no/en/faculty/landsam/department/noragric 2 Declaration: I, Luis Ignacio Gutierrez Reyes Retana, declare that this thesis is a result of my research investigation and findings. Sources of information other than my own have been acknowledged and a reference list has been appended. This work has not been previously submitted to any other university for award of any kind of academic degree. Signature: Date: 3 Table of contents Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………6 List of acronyms……………………………………………………………………….7 Section I: Introduction, Methodology and Theoretical Approach 1. Introduction…………………………………………………………………...9 1.1 Contextualizing the Estrada Doctrine………………………………………..12 1.2 Research Questions………………………………………………………….18 1.3 Structure of the thesis………………………………………………………..19 1.4 Theoretical approaches………………………………………………………19 2. Methodology………………………………………………………………...25 2.1 Research design……………………………………………………………..25 2.2 Sampling approaches…………………………………………………….….27 2.3 Methods for data collection…………………………………………………27 2.4 Data analysis, four hypotheses………………………………………………30 2.5 Ethical considerations………………………………………………………..31 Section II: The Estrada Doctrine origins and historical use. 3. The Estrada doctrine…………………………………………………………32 3.1 Background………………………………………………………………….32 3.2 The conception and rise of the Estrada Doctrine…………………………….35 Section III: The evolution of the Estrada Doctrine. 4. FPCh Levels of explanation…………………………………………………37 4.1 The International System……………………………………………………..37 4.1.2 The symbiotic relationship between Mexico and the United States (The Remora and the Shark)…………………………………………………………………………….38 4.1.3 Event based International System Analysis………………………………40 4.1.3.1 The aftermath of WWI and the league of nations………………………..40 4 4.1.3.2 WWII, UN and “The Mexican miracle”……………………………… 42 4.1.3.3 The end of the Cold War ………………………………………………44 4.1.3.4 The Attack on the Twin Towers: 9/11…………………………………46 4.1.3.5 Populism, conservatism and nationalist driven foreign policies………49 4.1.4 Theorizing (IR) the evolution of the Estrada Dictrine in the international system. 4.2 Individual Leader (Decision Maker)……………………………………51 4.2.1 Lazaro Cardenas del Rio, the Oil Expropiation and the Spanish exile...53 4.2.2 Carlos Salinas de Gortari, NAFTA and the economic expansion………56 4.2.3 Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the reestablishment of the “Original” Estrada Doctrine……………………………………………………………………………60 4.3 Domestic Factors……………………………………………………….63 4.3.1 Analysing the impact of regime change ………………………………..64 4.4 Constitutional and normative Changes…………………………………69 4.4.1 The principle of Non-intervention………………………………………69 4.4.2 Mexico and Human Rights………………………………………………72 4.4.3 The dilemma of the UN Peacekeeping operations………………………75 4.4.4 Normative current standpoint of the Estrada doctrine…………………..77 Section IV: The actual use of the Estrada Doctrine. 5. The current implementation of the Estrada doctrine……………………...78 5.1 Estrada Doctrine For Whom?.....................................................................78 5.2 The Estrada Doctrine in praxis…………………………………………………81 5.3 Three situations, three different application of doctrine…………………..84 6. Conclusions……………………………………………………………….88 7. References…………………………………………………………………94 5 Akcnowledgments My eternal gratitude to my supervisor, John Andrew McNeish for agreeing to supervise this project and for giving me very useful guidance on both content and writing. Besides his valuable comments, suggestions and patience. I extend my gratitude to all the interviewees who gave me their time and willingness, without their valuable participation this thesis would not have been possible. To NMBU for this precious opportunity to be part of MSc International Relations, and to my fellow students and teachers, who have undoubtedly contributed to developing academic and personal perspectives, thank you very much. To my wife Ida, my motivation to achieve this end. Thank you. 6 List of Acronyms IO, International Organization NGO, Non-Governmental Organization FPA, Foreign Policy Analysis FPCh, Foreign Policy Change IR, International Relations AMLO, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador PROMEXICO, Promoción de Mexico FDI, Foreign Direct Investment US, United States FP, Foreign Policy SRE, Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores RQ, Research Question SRQ, Sub Research question CIDE CPEUM, Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos EU, European Union WWI, World War I WWII, World War II UN, United Nations Km, Kilometres GDP, Gross Domestic Product IMF, International Monetary Fund OECD, Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development TWB, The World Bank 7 FTA, Free Trade Agreement APRI, Agreement for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investment WTO, World Trade Organization APEC, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Mecanism SEGOB, Secretaria de Gobierno NAFTA, North American Free Trade Agreement USMCA, United Statesm Mexico and Canada Agreement PEMEX, Petroleos Mexicanos OPANAL, Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean USSR, IM, Merida Initiative TCO, Transnational Organized Crime organizations PNR, Partido Nacional revolucionario PRI, Partido Revolucionario Institucional PAN, Partido Accion Nacional PRD, Partido de la Revolucion Democratica CTM, Confederacion de Trabajadores de Mexico UNAM, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico SHCP, Secretaria de Hacienda y Credito Publico INI, Instituto Nacional Indigena MORENA, Movimiento de Regeneracion Nacional IPADE, El Instituto Panamericano de Alta Dirección de Empresa OEA, Organización de Estados Americanos CNDH, Comision Nacional de los Derechos Humanos UPR, Universal Periodic 8 Section I: Introduction, Methodology and Theoretical Approach 1. Introduction In recent months, decisions regarding the foreign policy of Mexico have been in the world’s "spotlight". The unrestricted support granted to Nicolas Maduro´s regime in Venezuela and the asylum eagerly granted to Evo Morales condemning an alleged coup d'état in Bolivia, have highlighted the imminently pro-left and populist character of the government led by Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The president and his secretary of foreign relations Marcelo Ebrard explain these political decisions through their adoption or re-adoption of the “Original” Estrada Doctrine, which according to their interpretation had been corrupted during previous neoliberal governments. One of Lopez Obrador´s campaign slogans was that “there’s no better foreign policy than the domestic policy,”. This was intended as a political statement to signal that a country like Mexico should take into account its own interests and own social conditions when conducting foreign policy. This sudden implementation of the Estrada doctrine core original principles and an emphasis on domestic policy raises internal and international doubts about the current situation of the Mexico’s foreign policy. The importance that the current government gives to the implementation of the Estrada doctrine as a guide for Mexican foreign policy requires further consideration. In this thesis I aim to study the current implementation of the Doctrine and to explore the changes that have been made to this key instrument of Mexican foreign policy leading up to the present. The Estrada Doctrine is one of the most important international policy doctrines in America, which responded to a time of decolonization, revolution and intervention. It is still in force in Mexico today, where historical experiences have shaped the national identity behind foreign policy and forged a path toward its institutionalization based on the goal of maintaining a neutral profile with regards to international and internal problems since its constitutional status (1988). Article 89. Fr X of the Mexican Constitution emphasize principles of non-intervention, self‐ determination, peaceful conflict resolution, the condemnation of the use of force, legal equality between states, international peace and security, international development cooperation and more recently respect, protection, and promotion of human rights.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Than Neighbors New Developments in the Institutional Strengthening of Mexico’S Armed Forces in the Context of U.S.-Mexican Military Cooperation
    More than Neighbors New Developments in the Institutional Strengthening of Mexico’s Armed Forces in the Context of U.S.-Mexican Military Cooperation By Iñigo Guevara February 2018 More than Neighbors New Developments in the Institutional strengthening of Mexico’s armed forces in the context of US-Mexican Military Cooperation By Iñigo Guevara “With Mexico, very, very strong, quiet military-to-military relations” … … “This is a relationship that has been many decades in the making. Just go back - just for an example - go back to World War II. It doesn't start with us. It will not end with us.” -U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis1 Strategic Reasoning for Closer U.S. –Mexico Military Ties Despite the deep cultural and economic diversity of North America’s 486+ million inhabitants, the interconnectedness of the three countries means that they all face, to various degrees, the same threats, which range from serious to existential. Existential threats have long been narrowed to a nuclear war with Russia, to a much lesser degree China, and the now aspiring North Korea. The lack of an existential threat from the south has meant that Mexico was not a priority for the U.S. defense community. Mexico’s non-interventionist interior-looking foreign policy, the lack of an external threat, and an extremely complex politico-military relationship also meant that the defense relationship with the United States was cordial, but distant over several decades. Since the 1980’s, the Mexican Navy and Air Force did source their token conventional fighting capacity from the United States: a squadron of tactical jet fighters and a flotilla of second-hand destroyers and frigates; however, this was mainly out of convenience rather than a strategic decision to develop binational defense ties.
    [Show full text]
  • Recognition in International Law: a Functional Reappraisalt
    Recognition in International Law: A Functional Reappraisalt The ambiguous nature of the doctrine of recognition in international law has contributed to significant academic dispute.1 At least two major theories have been advanced to provide a framework for this part of international law. The "constitutive theory" views recognition as the voluntary act of the recognizing state; the "declaratory theory" accepts recognition as automatic.2 Recognition has both legal and political meanings, both internal and external consequences for the recognizing state.3 The law which applies in one set of circumstances may not necessarily apply in another. In strictly public international law acceptance of a declaratory theory re- quiring immediate admission of the fact of existence of a foreign state seems necessary. If, however, domestic legal issues are also involved, a state may legitimately impose other conditions of its own law and policy, resulting in the operation of some elements of a constitutive standard. Such a distinction can readily be discerned within the existing law. It is consistent both with the maintenance of international order and with the protection of domestic legal integrity. I. CLARIFICATION OF TERMINOLOGY A restricted vocabulary has been used to describe a large quantity of concepts. One distinction traditionally made in the literature is that between recognition of a state and recognition of a government. In the traditional jurisprudence the state is the unit or persona of interna- tional law which is capable of holding rights within the system. 4 A new t Fred L. Morrison, A.B. 1961, University of Kansas; B.A. 1963, Oxford University; M.A.
    [Show full text]
  • Between Two Revolutions: Cultural Relations Between Mexico and Cuba*
    Jahrbuch für Geschichte Lateinamerikas Anuario de Historia de América Latina 54 | 2017 | 108-128 Amelia M. Kiddle University of Calgary Between Two Revolutions Cultural Relations between Mexico and Cuba Except where otherwise noted, this article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (CC BY 4.0) https://doi.org/10.15460/jbla.54.23 Between Two Revolutions: * Cultural Relations between Mexico and Cuba Amelia M. Kiddle Abstract. - This article examines the role that Revolutionary Mexican foreign policy played within Mexican and Cuban society through an analysis of the 1938 voyage to Havana of the Brigada Mexicana and the 1939 visit to Mexico of Colonel Fulgencio Batista. These goodwill missions contributed to Mexican and Cuban state formation. In the Mexican case, the goodwill mission created domestic support by providing evidence of international support for the oil expropriation of 1938, and in the Cuban case, it provided legitimacy to the Batista regime by demonstrating affinity with the Mexican Revolution. While visiting Mexico in 1939, Batista witnessed the commemoration of the Constitution of 1917. Although he may not have been influenced to emulate its radical content in the Cuban Constitution of 1940, the two documents came to carry tremendous symbolic weight in the populist politics of both countries. Keywords: Goodwill; Foreign Relations; Cultural Relations; Mexico; Cuba; Lázaro Cárdenas; Fulgencio Batista. Resumen. Este artículo examina el papel que la política exterior del México Revolucionario jugó en las sociedades mexicana y cubana a través de un análisis del viaje de la Brigada Mexicana a La Habana en 1938 y la visita de Fulgencio Batista a México en 1939.
    [Show full text]
  • The Mexican Foreign Policy Tradition
    Fauriol: DIFFERING PERCEPTIONS IN FOREIGN POLICY AND SECURITY: The Mexican DIFFERING PERCEPTIONS IN FOREIGN POLICY AND SECURITY THE MEXICAN FOREIGN POLICY TRADITION Dr. Georges Fauriol* INTRODUCTION Mexico's foreign policy is quite unique. More than any other large country, the Mexican tradition has been to renounce the un- stated assumptions of "power politics." In its place, twentieth cen- tury Mexican decision makers have substituted a defensive foreign policy distilled from their ideology, prudent self-interest and their national experience. In the late 1980s, this has begun to slowly change. Oil, financial crises, tension at Mexico's northern and southern borders, and domestic unrest have altered Mexico's inter- action with the world. It is unclear whether this has altered Mex- ico's perception of its own interests. Mexico's position and participation in international politics thus defies easy categorization. The issue is not whether it has the means to enter the ranks of powerful nations. Mexico is already a signifi- cant nation whose sense of nationalism confirms that. The question is how Mexico will face its overwhelming problems. Positioned to take off industrially with its resources, energy, and growing tech- nology Mexico is an upwardly mobile nation. The global petroleum economy has brought a new challenge to Mexico, that is now forc- ing major choices on Mexican policy. Even with the potential for being a modern state, Mexico does not appear to have the national self-confidence and attendant interests for even regional power aspi- rations. In strategic terms, Mexico has the foundation to become a powerful nation, but appears reluctant to accept the responsibility.
    [Show full text]
  • Seventh Report on Unilateral Acts of States, by Mr. Víctor Rodríguez Cedeño, Special Rapporteur [Original: English/French/Spanish] [22 April 2004]
    UNILATERAL ACTS OF STATES [Agenda item 5] DOCUMENT A/CN.4/542*1 Seventh report on unilateral acts of States, by Mr. Víctor Rodríguez Cedeño, Special Rapporteur [Original: English/French/Spanish] [22 April 2004] CONTENTS Page Multilateral instruments cited in the present report ..................................................................................................................................... 207 Works cited in the present report ................................................................................................................................................................. 208 Paragraphs INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 1–12 211 Chapter I. ACTS AND DECLARATIONS THAT MAY REPRESENT THE PRACTICE OF STATES................................................................................................. 13–201 212 A. Acts whereby States assume obligations .................................................................................................................................... 13–79 212 B. Acts by which a State waives a right or a legal claim................................................................................................................. 80–88 232 C. Acts by which a State reaffirms a right or a legal claim ............................................................................................................. 89–178
    [Show full text]
  • The Cardenas Doctrine and Twentieth-Century Mexican Foreign Policy
    Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1974 The aC rdenas Doctrine and Twentieth-Century Mexican Foreign Policy. Jerry Edwin Tyler Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Tyler, Jerry Edwin, "The aC rdenas Doctrine and Twentieth-Century Mexican Foreign Policy." (1974). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 2768. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/2768 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. t INFORMATION TO USERS This material was produced from a microfilm copy of the original document. While the most advanced technological means to photograph and reproduce this document have been used, the quality is heavily dependent upon the quality of the original submitted. The following explanation of techniques is provided to help you understand markings or patterns which may appear on this reproduction. 1.The sign or "target" for pages apparently lacking from the document photographed is "Missing Page(s)". If it was possible to obtain the missing page(s) or section, they are spliced into the film along with adjacent pages. This may have necessitated cutting thru an image and duplicating adjacent pages to insure you complete continuity. 2. When an image on the film is obliterated with a large round black mark, it is an indication that the photographer suspected that the copy may have moved during exposure and thus cause a blurred image.
    [Show full text]
  • Redalyc.62 YEARS of INDONESIA-MEXICO DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS: SOME REFLECTIONS and WAYS FORWARD
    Revista de Relaciones Internacionales, Estrategia y Seguridad ISSN: 1909-3063 [email protected] Universidad Militar Nueva Granada Colombia Sjahril Sabaruddin, Sulthon; División de Estudios Internacionales Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas 62 YEARS OF INDONESIA-MEXICO DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS: SOME REFLECTIONS AND WAYS FORWARD Revista de Relaciones Internacionales, Estrategia y Seguridad, vol. 12, núm. 2, julio- diciembre, 2017, pp. 287-323 Universidad Militar Nueva Granada Bogotá, Colombia Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=92751348013 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative REVISTA - Bogotá (Colombia) Vol. 12 N.° 2 - Julio-diciembre 287 rev.relac.int.estrateg.segur.11(1):287-323,2017 62 YEARS OF INDONESIA-MEXICO DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS: SOME REFLECTIONS AND WAYS FORWARD* Sulthon Sjahril Sabaruddin** & División de Estudios Internacionales Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas*** * This research was developed with the support of the Agencia Mexicana de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo, Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (AMEXCID SRE) for the Special Program - Visiting Professor 2015 Scholarships. This paper represents the opinion of the author, and is the product of professional research. It is not meant to represent the position or opinion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Indonesia. Any errors are the fault of the author. ** Diplomatic Official (Charge d’Affaires), Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Sana’a. Doctorate in Economics, Universitas Indonesia. Dr. Sabaruddin actually works in the Center for Policy Analysis and Development on American and European Regions - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia in Jalan Taman Pejambon http://dx.doi.
    [Show full text]
  • On Becoming the Other: Cubans, Castro, and Elian - a Latcritical Analysis
    Denver Law Review Volume 78 Issue 4 Latcrit V Symposium - Class in LatCrit: Theory and Praxis in a World of Economic Article 11 Inequality December 2020 On Becoming the Other: Cubans, Castro, and Elian - A LatCritical Analysis Berta Esperanza Hernandez-Truyol Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.du.edu/dlr Recommended Citation Berta Esperanza Hernandez-Truyol, On Becoming the Other: Cubans, Castro, and Elian - A LatCritical Analysis, 78 Denv. U. L. Rev. 687 (2001). This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @ DU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Denver Law Review by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ DU. For more information, please contact [email protected],[email protected]. ON BECOMING THE OTHER: CUBANS, CASTRO, AND ELIAN -- A LATCRITICAL ANALYSIS BERTA ESPERANZA HERNANDEZ-TRUYOL* I. INTRODUCTION: THE DREAM-CUBANS' ARRIVAL IN THE UNITED STATES The course traveled towards becoming an "other" is necessarily cul- turally relative, sometimes individualized, and always complex. Finding out who we are, where we belong - or as Paula Gunn Allen articulates it, the journey to ascertain "who is my mother?" - is an arduous task. The "othering" path depends on our original location. The journey will differ if we are born into a designated minority within the majority culture or if we are born into a majority culture that becomes a minority when its members migrate across culturally, linguistically, racially, and/or ethni- cally identified geographic borders. The discovery of "othering" is an experience that varies greatly not only among individuals but also among groups; it differs in time and space.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix 1 New Breaks1 in Diplomatic Relations, 1976-89
    Appendix 1 New Breaks1 in Diplomatic Relations, 1976-89 States (initiating state listed first) Date of /Jreak Date ofrestoration 1976 Iceland-Britain February June 1976 Morocco-Algeria March May 1988 Mauritania-Algeria March August 1979 USA-Equatorial Guinea March November 19792 Iran-Cuba April August 1979 Angola-Portugal May June 1978 Egypt-Syria June October 1976 Mauritius-Israel July Britain-Uganda July Apri11979 Sudan-Libya July February 1978 Venezuela-Uruguay July March 1985 1977 Taiwan-Liberia February Spain-Equatorial Guinea March August 1979 Zaire-Cuba April August 1979 Zaire-East Germany May January 1979 Guatemala-Panama May August 1979 Ghana-Uganda May Mauritania-North Korea May North Yemen-Portugal June 3 Argentina-North Korea June Ethiopia-Somalia September April1988 Somalia-USSR November 1986 Somalia-Cuba November 1989 Cambodia-Vietnam December June 19'79 Egypt-Algeria December 1988 Egypt-Iraq December 1987 Egypt-Libya December Egypt-Syria December 1989 Egypt-South Yemen December 1988 1978 Benin-Gabon January February 1989 Gabon-Chad 134 New Breaks in Diplomatic &lations 135 Panama-South Africa Ethiopia-Tunisia 1988 Egypt-Cyprus February April 1984 Iran-Kenya February September 1982 Chad-Libya February February 1978 Bolivia-Chile March North Yemen-South Yemen July March 1979 Laos-France August December 1981 Libya-Taiwan September Afghanistan-South Korea September Costa Rica-Nicaragua November May 1986 USA-Taiwan December Bulgaria-Egypt December 1984 1979 Grenada-South Korea 1984 Morocco-Ethiopia March Iran-South Africa March
    [Show full text]
  • Evolution of Mexican Foreign Policy
    638 March 11,1988 EVOLUTION OF MEXICAN FOREIGN POLICY INTRODUCTION Mexicossforeign policy is of increasing concern to the United States. Reversing its long aversion to foreign activities, Mexico in the past decade has sought growing international involvement. Some of this activism undercuts importantU.S. security interests; This is:. .. evident in Central America where two of the most important U.S. security interests - the Panama Canal and the nearby Atlantic and Pacific sea lines of communications - are threatened by the military buildup of Nicaragua's Sandinista regime. Mexico has supported that regime actively and consistently has opposed U.S. foreign policy in the region. Mexico insists that its foreign policy is based upon the three principles of "nonintervention," "Self-determination," and the "peaceful solution" of conflicts. At the same time, however, Mexico claims that it is pursuing a pragmatic foreign policy. This qualification allows Mexico to ignore the three principles when convenient. Example: In the late 1970s, Mexico intervened in Nicaraguan affairs by allowing guerrillas fighting against Nicaragua's Somoza regime to use Mexican territory and also supp1ying:themwith large quantities of ammunition. This is the eighth in a series of Heritage studies on Mexico. It was preceded by Backgrounder No. 611, "Privatization in Mexico: Robust Rhetoric, Anemic Reality (October 22,1987); Backgmcnder No. 595, "Keys to Understanding Mexico: The PAN'S Growth as a Real Opposition" (July 29,1987);Backgrounder No. 588, "Deju Vu of Policy Failure: The New $14 Billion Mexican Debt Bailout" (June 25,1987);Backgrounder No. 583, "For Mexico's Ailing Economy, Time Runs Short" (June 4,1987);Backgrounder No.
    [Show full text]
  • International Law and the Criteria for Statehood
    1 The Sustainability of the Declaratory INTERNATIONAL LAW and Constitutive Theories as the Method for AND THE CRITERIA Assessing the Creation and FOR STATEHOOD Continued Existence of States Thesis writer: Ali Zounuzy Zadeh Administration number: s288571 Thesis supervisor: mr. Stefanie Jansen (Promovenda) Tilburg University Faculty of Law Department of International and European Law LL.M Thesis Public International Law International Law and the Criteria for Statehood: The Sustainability of the Declaratory and Constitutive Theories as the Method for Assessing the Creation and Continued Existence of States Student: Ali Zounuzy Zadeh Administration number: s288571 Exam Committee Thesis supervisor: mr. Stefanie Jansen (Promovenda) Second examiner: mr. S.J. Rombouts Table of Contents Table of Contents Abbreviations Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 Research Goal ............................................................................................................... 5 Central Research Question ............................................................................................ 5 Sub-questions ................................................................................................................ 5 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................. 6 Methods of Research ...................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Mexico: Background and U.S
    Mexico: Background and U.S. Relations Updated January 7, 2021 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R42917 Mexico: Background and U.S. Relations Summary Mexico, the 10th most populous country globally, has the 15th largest economy in the world. It is currently the top U.S. trade partner and a major source of energy for the United States, with which it shares a nearly 2,000-mile border and strong economic, cultural, and historical ties. Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the populist leader of the National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) party, which he created in 2014, took office for a six-year term in December 2018. López Obrador is the first Mexican president in over two decades to enjoy majorities in both chambers of Congress. In addition to combating corruption, he pledged to build infrastructure in southern Mexico, revive the poor-performing state oil company, address citizen security through social programs, and adopt a foreign policy based on the principle of nonintervention. President López Obrador has remained popular (64% approval in December 2020), even as his government has struggled to address organized crime-related violence, the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and a deep recession. After high-profile massacres and record homicide levels, the López Obrador government has come under pressure to improve its military- led security strategy. Mexico’s economy recorded zero growth in 2019, and the International Monetary Fund estimated it would contract 9.0% in 2020. Nevertheless, President López Obrador has not implemented an economic stimulus plan to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. U.S. Policy U.S.-Mexico relations have remained generally cordial.
    [Show full text]