Mexico’s Transformation in the Shadow of Trump’s America
Mexico’s Transformation in the Shadow of Trump’s America
07 Oct 2019, 18:00 – 20:00
Mexico bucked the trend of right-wing governments in Latin America on July 1, 2018, when Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) won the presidential election by a landslide. The promises of a ‘radical transformation’, a fight against corruption and greater equality in the nation that was the laboratory of neoliberalism raised expectations, not only in Mexico but around the world. A year later, it’s clear that Mexico’s role in the world is changing, but its government has confronted unexpected obstacles and intransigent problems. As the US government under Donald Trump moves openly toward a vision of white supremacist, patriarchal and oligarchical rule—with widespread popular support- antagonism toward Mexico, the left and especially immigrants have intensified. Trump’s threats to withdraw from the new bilateral trade agreement, impose tariffs on Mexico’s exports and close the border to force concessions on migration policy has backed the AMLO government into an uncomfortable corner. How much room for manoeuvre does the AMLO government have? What is Lopez Obrador’s vision and is he willing to break with vested interests? Can Mexico become a world leader for progressive change and at the same time avoid confrontation with the Trump administration, as seems to be the strategy? Join us for a discussion of the new role of Mexico in the world -the changes, the hopes and challenges.
The Americas Program celebrates its 40th year as a critical source of news and analysis on the impact of U.S. policy and grassroots movements for social justice in Latin America. An autonomous program of the Center for International Policy, the Americas Program is a key reference for activists, academics and citizens concerned about reforming US foreign policy, protecting human rights and building peace and democracy in the hemisphere. Based in Mexico City, the Program has a network of analysts, volunteers and partner organizations across the region and serves as a voice for social justice movements suppressed by mainstream media while seeking to build a North-South dialogue on issues that affect us all. See www.americas.org
This event is free, but please register using the Eventbrite link above. This event is facilitated by the UCL Institute of the Americas, The Bartlett Development Planning Unit as well as UCL History, together with the Radical Americas Network.
Laura Carlsen
Laura Carlsen holds a B.A. in Social Thought and Institutions from Stanford University and a Masters degree in Latin American Studies, also from Stanford. In 1986 she received a Fulbright Scholarship to study the impact of the Mexican economic crisis on women and has lived in Mexico City since then. She has published numerous articles and chapters on social, economic and political aspects of Mexico and recently co-edited Confronting Globalization: Economic integration and popular resistance in Mexico, and co-authored El Café en Mexico, Centroamerica y El Caribe: Una Salida Sustentable a la Crisis. She is the Americas Program director.