The Foreign Service Journal, October 2007

States for their own country’s poverty, shortcomings and incompetence. It was much easier to place the guilt across the border than to make the necessary changes at home. Such attitudes started changing in the 1980s, when the disasters that resulted from the mismanagement of two populist Mexican govern- ments could no longer be blamed on the gringos across the border, and profound structural policy changes were demanded. Those reforms led to the opening-up of the Mexican economy after decades of inward-looking, protectionist policies, carried out by a highly centralized state. Eventually, the changes laid the groundwork for the negotiation of NAFTA, which, in turn, impelled the Mexican government to change the image that most citi- zens had of the United States, its people and policies. The approval rate within theMexican population for the idea of free trade with the U.S. when it was first proposed in the 1980s was only 30 percent. After a thorough cam- paign of information and education that took several years, the figures were reversed: 70 percent of Mexi- cans approved of NAFTA. This high level of support among the Mexican public for the economic integration of North America has held up, according to a recent survey conduct- ed by Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas and Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales. When neighboring countries work together for a con- structive common goal, they can both succeed. The same is true on immigration, monetary union and the overrid- ing goal of improving regional security for North America. In this context, the border should be viewed as a chain that links ever more closely two peoples who are destined by geography and history to live next to each other. F O C U S 22 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / O C T O B E R 2 0 0 7 * per night, single or double occupancy subject to availability Y our search is over, choose a hotel where the federal per diem rate is available year-round. * Luxurious Suites All rooms with full size kitchen & stove tops Fitness center Complimentary in-room coffee Full service restaurant Parking available Across fromMain State White House, The Mall, and Metro Foggy Bottom station (blue & orange lines) within walking distance Accommodations State Plaza Hotel 2117 E. St. NW Washington, DC 20037 Telephone: (800) 424-2859 (202) 861-8200 Parking Available Rated 1 / 2 by AAA www.stateplaza.com E-mail: reservations@stateplaza.com This high level of support among the Mexican public for the economic integration of North America has held up.