Obstacles for Security Cooperation in North America Roberto Domínguez 2012-2013 Jean Monnet/GGP Fellow
What is North America? IR literature: United States and Canada After NAFTA: US, Canada, Mexico Over-theorization and under-theorization Expectations of a North American Community Assumption that increasing economic interdependence would stimulate creation of regional institutions Realities Economic integration remains at the lowest level of the Balasian integration No spillover effects
Material Differences Mexico: Outsider of North America? DI CPI GE FSI GG USA 8.22 7.10 1.38 35.3 3.4 Canada 9.07 8.90 1.78 27.9 3.1 Mexico 6.78 3.10 0.16 76.1 5.8 Democracy Index 2010 EIU (Index between 1 and 10) Corruption Perception Index by TI (index between 0 and 10) Government Effectiveness 2009 World Bank (index between -2.5 and 2.5) Failed State Index by Fund for Peace (index between 0 and 120) Group grievance by Fund for Peace (Index between 1 and 10)
Different Ideas The Process: breakdown of consensus critical examination new practices. Security area (terrorism, organized crime) Reinforcement of bi-lateralization Wendtian systems: US-Canada: cooperative system US-Mexico: individualistic system
Individualistic and Cooperative Systems Dual-bilateralism (Pastor) North America opts for bilateral strategies to deal with threats Avoids trilateral institutions with collective decision-making power Cooperative security system (US-Canada) States identify positively with each other, parties are able to share and build common institutions, security of one is perceived as responsibility of all Individualistic security system (US-Mexico / Canada-Mexico) States are ambiguous in the identification of one another Cooperation is limited as a result of distrust Security perceived as an individual responsibility
A) Perceptions of Threats United States Reflection of global role International terrorism (2004-2010); possibility of unfriendly countries becoming nuclear powers (2004-2010); violent Islamist groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan (2008, 2010) Reflection of regional role Drug-related violence and instability in Mexico (2010) Large numbers of immigrants and refugees coming into the US (2004, 2006, 2008)
A) Perceptions of Threats Mexico Domestic problems Drug trafficking and organized crime (ranked as grave threat #1 in 2010) Global problems Weapons trafficking (#5) Nuclear weapons (#8) International terrorism (#8) Regional problems Border conflicts (#11) Territorial disputes (#11) Instability in neighboring countries (#12)
A) Perceptions of Threats Canada Focus on soft security issues Environment (2010-16%) Starvation (16%) War (14%) Economy (14%) Terrorism (6%)
B) Principles of Action United States National Security Strategy Differentiates the approach of security to the neighboring countries Canada: Security cooperation (defense of North America and efforts through NATO overseas) Mexico: trade cooperation, working together to identify threats, stability and security in Mexico
Mexico National Program of Public Security No mention of North America, US or Canada Prevent criminal activities, openly combat crime, consolidate the rule of law, improve technology to fight against organized crime, professionalize police corporations, reform the institutions in charge in combating crime. National Development Plan Same goals Includes international cooperation in the security policy Focus on domestic, rather than global or regional issues
Canada Securing an Open Society: Canada s National Security Policy Protecting Canada and the safety and security of Canadians at home and abroad Ensuring Canada is not a base for threats to our allies Contributing to international security Six key areas: intelligence, emergency planning and management, public health emergencies, transportation security, border security, and international security. Acknowledgment of North America as a region for partnership and of the US and Mexico
C) Policies United States Canada Military cooperation North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) US Northern Command (NORTHCOM), which incorporated NORAD Border cooperation Smart Border Declaration Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET) Collaboration between IBET and US Coast Guard
United States Mexico Security Cooperation Reluctance of Mexico to cooperate» Issues of national sovereignty Merida Initiative (MI)» Change of perception in the bilateral relationship» MI does not represent a significant amount of cash since the U.S. government only compromises 1.2 billion dollars for three years (2007-2010). Border Security Border Partnership Border Enforcement Security Task Force The U.S.-Mexico 21st Century Border Action Plan
Mexico Canada Few bilateral actions between these two countries in security issues After 9-11 and in the light of the violence in Mexico, Canada and Mexico have established some forms of cooperation in the fight against crime organization Implementation of programs to exchange information and to train police forces However: Canada s implementation of visa program for Mexicans traveling to Canada (2009) hurt the relationship
Conclusions Diversity of perceptions, principles and policies. No incentives for a deeper cooperation No incentives for tri-lateralization In fact, dual bi-lateralism is what states have made of it.