Mexico: A Reluctant Regional Security Provider

Abstract

This paper analyses the role of Mexico as security provider or source of insecurity through the analysis of regional security governance. It argues that in contrast with other countries in the region such as Brazil, which has displayed policies aimed at building a node of regional security, Mexico has become a reluctant regional security provider as a result of its traditional historical inward looking roots and the inherent state weaknesses augmented by the current instability in the area of security. This paper looks into four categories of security governance (assurance, prevention, protection and compellence) in order to evaluate the role of Mexico in the context of regional security. Part of the task of this paper will be to explore the extent in which Mexico carries out one or more of these dimensions and the extent in which it contributes to regional (collective) security governance.