USING ECONOMIC TOOLS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
Economic Engagement
R E S O LV E D :
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE ITS ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT TOWARD CUBA, MEXICO, OR VENEZUELA
QUIZ: WHEN WERE THE OTHER TIMES THAT LATIN AMERICA HAS BEEN
DEBATED?
ANSWER: 1987-88 POLITICAL STABILITY1994-95 IMMIGRATION
2012-13 Debate Resolution
Implications of topic wording
USFG must be the actor and determiner of economic engagement
Question: What are the current
policies that the USFG has towards these countries?
Must know that first
Current policies are like the three bears
Cuba
“Papa Bear” (too hard)
No economic engagement now
Embargo since the mid-”60’s
Policy as the the three bears
Venezuela
“Mama bear” (too soft)
Some engagement, especially with oil
With the passing of Hugo Chavez, some shifting will take place
Policy as the three bears
Mexico
“Baby bear” (Just right)
Although domestically we have issues, tied directly with Mexico
Open to significant relationships
What is included in economic engagement?
We could define both “economic” and “engagement”
Why would that not be the best approach?Answer: Very broad; would allow for a very
large topic and not exclude much of anythingBest is a contextual definitionOne that would include “positive incentives to
achieve an objective”
What does economic engagement include
Haas & Sullivan with the Brookings Institute in 2000 argued that economic engagement included the following:
Export creditsInvestment insurance or promotionAccess to technologyLoans and economic aidRemoval of penalties such as embargoes,
investment bans, high tariffsFacilitate entry into global economic arena and
institutions
Economic engagement
Arda Celik, professor of international relations at Uppsala University in 2011 book Economic Sanctions and Engagement Policies defined as follows:
The purpose of economic engagement is to “deepen the economic intersection, interconnectedness and mutual dependence and finally seeks economic interdependence. This interdependence serves the sender state to change the political behavior of target state.”
Other types of engagement
Political engagement
Diplomatic recognition
Access to regional or international institutions
Summits between leaders
Commercial interests that include people to people; humanitarian concerns; historical ties (extra topical?)
Other types of engagement
Military engagements Extension of military
or educational training
Human rights among armed services
Establish relationships between US and other foreign military officers
Arms exchanges; offering security services
ALTHOUGH THE TOPIC REQUIRES USFG
ACTION, IT DOES NOT SPECIFY ACTION WITH THE GOVERNMENTS OF
THE TARGET COUNTRIES
Other considerations
Learn the Latin America alphabet
NAFTA
North America Free Trade Agreement-- Agreement between Canada, US, and Mexico
ALBA
Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas-Member countries includes Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and island countries in the Bahamas
Latin America Alphabet
CELAC
Community of Latin American and Caribbean States-Founded in 2011, includes 33 countries, but excludes the US & Canada Founded as an alternative to the OAS
FTAA
Free Trade Area of the Americas Proposed agreement to expand to all of the nations in the Western Hemisphere excluding Cuba. Opposed by members of ALBA
Possible Affirmative Advantages
Hegemony
Could defend an increase or decrease in US leadership and/or influence; improved relations with various countries would increase soft power
Oil dependency
Energy development of any one of the three countries would help with decreasing dependence on Middle East sources
Possible affirmative advantage areas
Economic growthImproving conditions
in any of these countries would be beneficial to both the country and the US in terms of opening new markets, allowing for corporate expansions, and developing local economies
Solving social issues
Increased engagement would lead to addressing other issues such as immigration, health care, trafficking in humans and drugs, and nuclear proliferation
Have fun with these countries