Economic Engagement Powerpoint

Economic Engagement

USING ECONOMIC TOOLS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS

2012-13 Debate Resolution RESOLVED:

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 STABILITY 1994-95 IMMIGRATION

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 anything  Best is a contextual definition  One 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 credits Investment insurance or promotion Access to technology Loans and economic aid Removal of penalties such as embargoes, investment bans, high tariffs Facilitate 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

Other considerations ALTHOUGH THE TOPIC REQUIRES USFG ACTION, IT DOES NOT SPECIFY ACTION WITH THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE TARGET COUNTRIES

Learn the Latin America alphabet 

 NAFTA

 ALBA

 North America

 Bolivarian

Free Trade Agreement-Agreement between Canada, US, and Mexico

Alternative for the Americas-Member countries includes Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and island countries in the Bahamas

Latin America Alphabet  CELAC

 FTAA

 Community of Latin

 Free Trade Area of

American and Caribbean StatesFounded in 2011, includes 33 countries, but excludes the US & Canada Founded as an alternative to the OAS

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

 Oil dependency

 Could defend an increase

 Energy development of

or decrease in US leadership and/or influence; improved relations with various countries would increase soft power

any one of the three countries would help with decreasing dependence on Middle East sources

Possible affirmative advantage areas  Economic growth

 Solving social issues

 Improving 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

 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