"Hacer o no hacer" (To do or not to do). Mexican Foreign Policy and UN Peacekeeping Operations in the 21st Century
Abstract
On December 1, 2000 a new administration took over the presidency of Mexico. This event was much anticipated because the new president, Vicente Fox, belonged to a different party than the PRI, the established official party. The arrival of President Fox brought important changes in governing. Since the beginning of his administration, one of Fox's main goals was for Mexico to pursue a more dynamic participation in the political issues of the world. This was to be accomplished by the nation enhancing economic trade with the United States and other nations, hosting world summits, and improving human rights. One of the administration's actions that attracted special attention was when Mexico asked for a seat as a nonpermanent member on the United Nations (UN) Security Council for the period 2002-2003, the third time in history that Mexico held that seat. There were divided opinions on this request, because Mexico would be directly involved in UN decisions concerning the internal affairs of other countries, something that goes against Mexico's foreign policy principles. This event prompted discussion of other controversial topics, one of which was the possibility of Mexico participating in peacekeeping operations overseas, which started a bitter political debate. This study analyzes Mexican foreign policy during Fox's administration against a backdrop of the foreign principles set forth in Article 89 of the Mexican Constitution. The study discusses the influence and interpretation of these principles in the political-military environment before and during the Fox administration. As Mexico takes its place in the community of nations, it's leadership needs to determine whether the new Mexican political apparatus has the flexibility to address current requirements for international security. An analysis of Mexico's military capabilities also is necessary to determine their capacity to execute multinational operations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA462365
Entities
People
- Jesus E. Encinas-valenzuela
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School