The End of Nostalgia: Mexico Confronts the Challenges of Global Competition

Mexico's determination to participate as a global player is strong with manufacturing centers throughout the country churning out automobiles, aircraft parts, and electronics. But do the underlying institutional and cultural elements exist to support such an economic effort? Mexico is a nation in transition from an ancient civilization, Spanish colonial heritage, and one party rule to a modern liberal democracy with open markets. How might this proud nation with deep historical roots participate effectively in a highly competitive world? This book reflects on the past and examines the efforts to dismantle protective barriers, spur a legislature into effective law making, open the plentiful energy resources to new investment, attract foreign direct investment into Mexico's burgeoning manufacturing sector, radically reform its education system, and engage more broadly with the United States and the world. Arturo Franco of Harvard University seeks to explain the factors that underlie Mexico's low economic performance and to analyze the potential for higher economic growth. Franco also examines the Mexican legislative agenda, inquiring whether the characterization of a "Siesta Congress" is fair. Duncan Wood (Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico) examines the serious decline in Mexico's petroleum reserves and internal problems within PEMEX, presenting strategies to augment energy supplies. Christopher Wilson (Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars) examines Mexican trade and investment, demonstrating how they help drive the U.S. - Mexico relationship. Armando Chacon (Mexican Institute for Competitiveness) examines the low quality of public education and proposes methods for judging improvements. Eduardo Guerrero (Lantia Consultores) reviews President Calderon's security policy noting positive advances as well as weaknesses. He presents eight recommendations that aim to achieve a balance and effective security policy. Diana Negroponte (Brookings) examines the discrepancy between the perception of violence and actual rates of victimization in a society that is increasingly identified as middle class. Finally, diplomat Andres Rozental recommends that the U.S. - Mexico relationship desecuritize its bilateral relationship and prioritize trade, investment, and climate change. Negroponte also addresses the transformation required of an ancient civilization whose economic prosperity can only be achieved through openness to global trade and investment.

About the Author :
Diana Villiers Negroponte is a nonresident senior fellow with the Latin America Initiative under the Foreign Policy program at Brookings. Before coming to Brookings, she practiced international law with Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker and was a senior scholar at the U.S. Institute of Peace.