Suchergebnisse

Felipe Calderon's government pursued continuity in Mexico's foreign policy on human rights in line with the two previous administrations. This continuity may be explained by the pressure exerted 'from outside' on the Mexican government by international human rights groups, and by the effect of applying an external 'lock-in' on new foreign policy on the issue. This policy has had little impact on respect for human rights in Mexico. The foreign policy of openness and multilateral activism has been a significant aspect of a process (one that is incomplete and contentious) of redefining the identity of Mexico in the international sphere. Adapted from the source document.

The article analyzes the current context in which Mexico's foreign policy is developed. The author argues that after the end of the Cold War, the international scene was transformed in a radical way, but despite this, inequalities & injustices persist. In view of this situation, the Mexican government has three options: (1) keep the current policy; (2) change its way, or (3) establish in a clear way national interests & goals in order to evaluate the consequences of neoliberal policy. Finally, he points that Mexico must try to legitimize its foreign policy & make it attentive to national necessities. Adapted from the source document.

This article suggests that the changes in Mexico's foreign policy during the Salinas administration (1988-1994) were mainly the result of a decision to intensify economic liberalization policies that was endorsed by the rational actor model. The author uses Allison's model of bureaucratic policy to back criticism claiming that the rational actor model does not adequately account for interaction among bureaucratic agencies, & concludes that consensus rather than negotiation explains the behavior of Mexican bureaucratic agencies dealing with foreign policy issues from 1988 to 1994. Adapted from the source document.

At the outset of his term of office, Calderon's foreign policy maintained a low profile due to the domestic political and social situation, the international crisis and the president's personal concerns. Once interior and exterior conditions improved, the administration was able to drive forward a more dynamic foreign policy. This paper analyzes the foreign policy project set out by Felipe Calderon, reviews Mexico's international relations during the first part of the administration using systemic, state and individual levels of analysis, and examines the state of affairs at the close of the term in office. Adapted from the source document.

An assessment of Belgian foreign policies promulgated since the summer of 1999 by the current government of prime minister Guy Verhofstadt is presented. The following issues, identified as the most important in the 1999-2002 period, are discussed: (1) the handling of the dioxin crisis of 1999 by the state secretary for international commerce Pierre Chevalier & the minister of foreign affairs Louis Michel, (2) an engagement in peace diplomacy in Central Africa, (3) the European Union (EU) chairmanship by Belgium begun in May 2001, (4) Belgian support & criticism of American military reactions to September 11, & (5) the principles of ethical diplomacy in action. Belgian assertive diplomacy to defend national economic & commercial interests threatened by the dioxin crisis & the country's contribution to solidifying the EU are recognized as positive developments. However, the lukewarm solidarity with the US in the wake of September 11 is found to be damaging to the country on the international arena, & the ad-hoc policies developed for Central Africa are criticized for being only a damage control resulting from "fence-sitting" throughout the 1990s. The three year foreign policy of the current government is found to produce "mixed results" & contain both positive & negative elements. Z. Dubiel

In a globalized world the "foreign" aspect is getting more and more important. Despite the much talked about pros and cons, this also means that a number of unforeseen challenges should be met. Karel De Gucht, Belgium's Minister of Foreign Affairs, proposes ten theses regarding preparation and coordination of policies, civic service, communication and public diplomacy, qualification and education of its personal, a network of posts abroad, supportive material and services (informatics and security mainly). References. O. van Zijl

An evaluation of Mexico's foreign policy toward Africa during Ernesto Zedillo's administration highlights two significant issues: (1) the eroding -- which began during the Salinas administration -- of the already precarious presence & of the marginal capacity for response Mexico had had in Africa since the 1960s, & (2) the loss of a historical opportunity to establish strategic alliances with emerging African powers, based on coinciding interests having to do with post-Cold War world themes mentioned in the 1995-2000 National Development Plan. The globalization boom, together with crises occurring every 6 years in Mexico, seems to have reduced both the country's opportunities & its ability to diversify its relations overseas & has favored a trend toward Mexico's decreasing involvement in Africa. The most distinctive trait of Mexican foreign policy toward Africa during Ernesto Zedillo's administration was that, precisely as a result of its lack of involvement, Mexico remained virtually invisible in that continent. Adapted from the source document.

The aim of the research was to assess the legal framework for the acquisition of agricultural land by domestic and foreign legal entities, using the rules and regulations on the agricultural land market in Ukraine as an example of a system with ill-founded restrictions in this area. To accomplish this task, the authors resort to a set of scientific methods, including comparative review, systematic review and standard techniques of text analysis. The main result of the research was that it is imperative for Ukraine, taking into account that European integration is a key and unalterable priority of its foreign policy, to grant a general permission for foreign natural and legal persons to acquire agricultural land, as well as to introduce flexible approaches to setting acquisition limits. It is concluded that, the attention of policy makers should also focus on the need to deploy legal and institutional mechanisms that can respond to the challenges and risks associated with a significant degree of freedom of movement of agricultural land. This could include establishing in contracts for the alienation of agricultural land the obligations of buyers in relation to its rational use.