ABSTRACT

Central American conflicts pose multi-faceted threats to Mexican political stability and have therefore helped promote Mexico's new activism in regional affairs. This chapter analyzes these threats, emphasizing Mexican perceptions of them as the chief driving forces behind Mexico's Central American policy. It explores the possible impacts of alternative United States (US) policies and focuses on future Mexican policy. Mexico believes that time has vindicated and even exalted its once maverick approach. Whereas Mexico was initially the only Latin American nation to maintain diplomatic relations with the U.S.'s communist foe, more and more nations have followed Mexico's coexistence policy. Mexico is particularly worried that the Reagan administration may prove intolerant of Mexican policies. Mexico has adeptly used progressive foreign policy to garner the active support of its domestic Left, thereby strengthening the institutionalized or coopted Left while marginalizing the alternative Left. One politically dangerous aspect of the refugee problem is the attention it focuses on the suffering of Mexico's own citizens.