Extractivism in Mexico: Questions of Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, and Human Rights

Abstract

In this essay, we use the example of chronic extractive violence in the Mexican mining sector to examine the impact of human rights violations in this sector on geopolitical and geoeconomic relations. Human rights violations in Mexico’s extractive sector have transnational effects due to public opinion shifts that can disrupt global supply chains and strain diplomatic ties. This topic is important beyond the Mexican case, as resource-rich middle-income countries are increasingly pressured by great power-led technological and economic competition and climate-related mitigation efforts.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gerardo Sánchez Nateras

Gerardo Sánchez Nateras is an Assistant Professor in the International Studies Division of the Center for Economic Research and Teaching (CIDE). He has a PhD in History from El Colegio de México. He is the author of The Last Revolution: The Sandinista Insurrection and the Inter-American Cold War. He received the “Charles A. Hale” Award from the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) and the Genaro Estrada Award from the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) for the best doctoral thesis in foreign relations. His works have been published in academic journals such as Cold War History and Latin American Research Review, among others. He is currently working on issues related to hemispheric security, Mexico-Central America-United States relations, and the Inter-American Cold War. E-mail: [email protected]

Christina Boyes

Christina Boyes is an assistant professor in the International Studies Division at the Center for Economic Research and Teaching, A.C. (CIDE) in Mexico City. She holds a PhD and M.A. from the University of Colorado Boulder in International Relations and Public Policy focused on the role of natural mineral resources and intrastate conflict and an M.A. in Cross-Cultural Studies from Regis University. She teaches classes on International Organizations at CIDE. She has a forthcoming paper in the British Journal of Political Science, as well as chapters in edited volumes from Springer, CRC Press, and the American Political Science Association. She is also the current Vice President and Co-program Chair for the ELIAS section of the International Studies Association.