The Effectiveness of Mexico's Humanitarian Diplomacy to Address the Challenges of a Pandemic

Abstract

The article proposes to consider the humanitarian diplomacy of Mexico during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, which the author sees as one of the tools of the state's foreign policy. Within the framework of the article, humanitarian diplomacy is studied for effectiveness in resolving socio-economic and political challenges that have arisen or worsened against the background of the pandemic, such as racism, poverty, lack of equipment, vaccines and personal protective equipment, the vulnerable situation of women, the deteriorating situation of the indigenous population, and the decline in the authority of the government. To assess the effectiveness, the author proposed a formula that allows calculating as a percentage how much humanitarian diplomacy has helped to cope with challenges. The scientific novelty of the study is an attempt to assess the effectiveness of humanitarian diplomacy in the context of resolving specific internal socio-economic challenges posed to the state. As a result of the study, it was revealed that humanitarian diplomacy is an effective auxiliary tool that can contribute to solving the problems that have arisen against the background of a humanitarian crisis. Nevertheless, the author notes that a number of deep problems require a comprehensive approach of the government and the use of various tools in addition to humanitarian activities. It is noted that the assessment of effectiveness in solving social challenges is complicated by the inability to obtain results immediately after the end of the project. Thus, the author denies the universality of humanitarian diplomacy as a tool for solving socio-economic challenges.