Interdependence in the U.S.-Mexican Borderlands: An Irresistible Dynamic or Fragmented Reality?
Abstract
Although the popular awareness and, perhaps, even the desirability of the 'Mexamerica' phenomenon decline as one moves north from the border, the phenomenon itself is in fact a byproduct of a long-standing series of interlocking economic, social, and cultural interests that are inextricably binding together the U.S.-Mexican borderlands. What is most novel about this phenomenon is its discovery by the U.S. media. This discovery, which is no doubt tied to America's increasing sensitivity to conflicts in Central America, our need for a stable oil supply, and the large influx of immigrants during a period of high unemployment, must strike many Mexicans as ironic given the pervasive and long-standing influence of American business and culture in Mexico. However, the phenomenon of borderline interdependence is, by now, a familiar topic of discussion among scholars and policymakers in both countries who, depending on their perspective, debate the degree of equality or inequality of that relationship. This paper re-examines the phenomenon of borderlands interdependence in an attempt to distinguish the rhetoric from the reality. Focusing on the exchange relationships (socio-cultural, economic, and political) that promote interdependence as well as the characteristics and motives of the parties to the exchange, it reviews the current situation in the borderlands and considers longer-range trends and their implications both for the border and for the wider range of bilateral U.S. and Mexico relations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA145167
Entities
People
- K. F. Mccarthy
Organizations
- RAND Corporation