The World Adrift Between Orders: The History of the American Far Right and its Impact on US-Mexico Relations. Past and Present

Abstract

Taking a long-term historical perspective, this article delves into the history of sifting political orders and far-right rebellions in the United States, examining their profound impact on US-Mexico relations. Far-right rebellions are complex political phenomena, deeply rooted in three distinct American political traditions and movements: populism, illiberalism, and isolationism. All three have periodically reshaped the landscape of American politics, notably during transitions such as the current crisis facing the Washington Consensus and the liberal international order. In the past, US-Mexico relations appeared insulated from those far-right rebellions that periodically emerge from political transitions. However, this is no longer the case. The rise of Trumpism today has established the foundational framework for a new era of strained US-Mexico relations amid escalating geopolitical instability on a global scale.