Regional Specialization. The Middle Americas: Mexico, Panama, Central America and the Caribbean Basin.

摘要

Historically the United States (US) paid attention to the neighborhood to its south only in a crisis or when convenient. Generally viewed as lagging in efforts to develop stable governments and self-sustaining economies, Mexico, Central America to include Panama and the Caribbean, henceforth Middle America, have in the last decade made progress in diversifying and opening up their economies to global competition while instituting democratic reforms This progress has come at a price. Rapidly expanding urban populations foster socio-economic problems of violent crime, drug abuse, pollution, sources of emigration, subversion, terrorism, the potential for insurgency and coup de etats. Economic under-development widens the gap between the rich and the poor exacerbating illegal emigration to the US. Large migrations from Haiti and Cuba have been especially problematic The US policy into the 21st Century should nurture regional stability and sustain economic growth Stability and higher standards of having are pursued as a prophalaxis against uncontrolled migration and as a solution for securing viable trading partners and security allies.