The implications of central American conflicts for Mexican politics

Central American conflicts pose multi-faceted threats to Mexican political stability and have therefore helped promote Mexico's new activism in regional affairs. This chapter analyzes these threats, emphasizing Mexican perceptions of them as the chief driving forces behind Mexico's Central American policy. Some of the threats concern Mexico's relations with neighboring nations; others more directly involve power relations within Mexico itself. Throughout, but especially toward the end, this chapter also explores the possible impacts of alternative U.S. policies and speculates on future Mexican policy.