The North American border cooperation model: Local challenges for a security agenda

Abstract

The economic integration of North America has deepened with the creation of NAFTA. Border interdependence has created mechanisms that are cementing the mutual interaction that border cities have with each other. Yet, the emerging new policies of U.S. homeland security will require important adjustments in border areas and in the interaction with Mexico and Canada. This essay examines the challenges of border towns in coping with demands related to security and how these issues are presented by their news media. Security policies represent a paradigm shift of border interaction that illustrates that the relationship between the U.S. with Mexico and Canada is entering a new stage of complex interdependence. To ensure proper implementation, Mexico will need to make significant structural adjustments and lessons from the Canada‐U.S. relation that may serve as templates are explored.

Notes

Chavez is Associate Director of the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and Assistant Professor in the School of Journalism at Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.