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