Panel raises issue of US, Mexico links
Speakers expose America's destructive attitudes toward the southern nation
Haley Mathis
Issue date: 3/27/09 Section: News
The links between Mexico and the US include geographic closeness, a close alignment between economies - especially in the industrial sector - a connection in the labor markets, history and family ties.
These were the links under discussion at a panel yesterday titled "Mexico: More Than a Neighbor," which covered both the current and future relations between Mexico and the United States.
Jorge Gonzalez, professor of economics, served as a member of the panel and explained some of the key issues addressed.
"We cannot think of just the US or just Mexico as being separate entities," Gonzalez said. "We need to recognize that we are more than just two different people living side by side. Therefore when we think about problems that occur in North America, we need to think about solving them together."
The panel also discussed the battle on organized crime, although many panel members felt that this should not be the main focus of the relationship between Mexico and the US.
Gonzalez explained that the Mexican government is in a completely open battle to try to dismantle these crime organizations. However, Mex-ico needs the cooperation of the United States in the battle against organized crime since the overwhelming majority of the money these organizations make comes from US drug consumers. Gonzalez explained that this is clearly not a Mexican issue, but it is a joint issue.
Visiting Professor of Political Science Katsuo Nishikawa's area of research focuses on Mexican democracy and Latin American politics and political economy.
Nishikawa explained that the media often portrays the relationship between Mexico and the U.S. as violent and confrontational. However, in his view this doesn't seem to be the case.
"The reality is, it's more like a family," Nishikawa said. "There are so many things that unite Mexico and the U.S. beyond geography. There is history, population, and our shared culture."
Nishikawa explained that the problems should not be framed as a Mexican mess that is spilling over onto our side of the border. Rather, many of the issues have origins in both countries.
These were the links under discussion at a panel yesterday titled "Mexico: More Than a Neighbor," which covered both the current and future relations between Mexico and the United States.
Jorge Gonzalez, professor of economics, served as a member of the panel and explained some of the key issues addressed.
"We cannot think of just the US or just Mexico as being separate entities," Gonzalez said. "We need to recognize that we are more than just two different people living side by side. Therefore when we think about problems that occur in North America, we need to think about solving them together."
The panel also discussed the battle on organized crime, although many panel members felt that this should not be the main focus of the relationship between Mexico and the US.
Gonzalez explained that the Mexican government is in a completely open battle to try to dismantle these crime organizations. However, Mex-ico needs the cooperation of the United States in the battle against organized crime since the overwhelming majority of the money these organizations make comes from US drug consumers. Gonzalez explained that this is clearly not a Mexican issue, but it is a joint issue.
Visiting Professor of Political Science Katsuo Nishikawa's area of research focuses on Mexican democracy and Latin American politics and political economy.
Nishikawa explained that the media often portrays the relationship between Mexico and the U.S. as violent and confrontational. However, in his view this doesn't seem to be the case.
"The reality is, it's more like a family," Nishikawa said. "There are so many things that unite Mexico and the U.S. beyond geography. There is history, population, and our shared culture."
Nishikawa explained that the problems should not be framed as a Mexican mess that is spilling over onto our side of the border. Rather, many of the issues have origins in both countries.
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