"The report ""Mexico and the World 2006"", presented in CIDOB"

“Mexicans do not feel threatened by China, and half of them think that being a neighbour of the United States is favourable”, according to a report presented by Covadonga Meseguer, a researcher in the International Studies Division of the Center for Economic Research and Teaching (CIDE) in Mexico in the Campana Hall of the CIDOB Foundation. According to Meseguer, the report demonstrates some changes in Mexican public opinion, “which denote a higher level of information on international issues and a greater optimism in the population than in 2004, despite the uncertainties in the international context”. 

“Contact with the outside world has also increased, especially among the leaders, but also due to family ties linked with migrations,” the CIDE researcher indicated. In general, Mexicans’ opinions on globalisation and opening up to foreign trade are favourable among a majority, although this is much more accentuated among the political leaders. Nevertheless, Meseguer recognised that very disparate opinions exist with regard to “the northern and central regions, which feel they benefit more, and those of the south, which feel more adversely affected”. With respect to Asia, the CIDE researcher stated that “only 3% of Mexicans think that more attention should be paid to it”. “In contrast, the chinese and koreans are much internationalist and more favourable to globalisation than mexicans and americans”, Meseguer added. 

DISAGREEMENT WITH THE U.S. ON IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY 

The positive evaluation that the political leaders of Mexico and the United States give to foreign policy is reciprocal. Meseguer emphasised that the issues of greatest disagreement between the two countries are “in the areas of immigration and energy”. And although “the majority of Mexicans feel Latino, they prefer to do business with Americans”, according to the researcher. Meseguer sustained that the political leaders also coincide in their scant concern for China’s rise as a power. “Despite the fact that Mexicans are more favourable to strengthening the United Nations, public opinion in the United States is slightly more favourable to accepting U.N. resolutions even if they do not benefit their country”, the researcher pointed out. This report is the result of an opinion study carried out biannually by the CIDE, based on surveys of public opinion and opinions of Mexican leaders regarding their country’s foreign policy. 

This report also deals with a comparative study in the area of foreign action regarding the opinions of political leaders in Mexico, the United States, China, South Korea and India. The Center for Economic Research and Teaching (CIDE) is a Mexican public research and teaching institution in the area of social sciences. For further information: