There has been research on the phenomenon of ‘huachicol’, but it has not yet been analysed in direct relation with neoliberalism and the neoliberalization of Mexico. Assessing the crime and...Show moreThere has been research on the phenomenon of ‘huachicol’, but it has not yet been analysed in direct relation with neoliberalism and the neoliberalization of Mexico. Assessing the crime and violence in Mexico in relation to the theory of neoliberalism will add to the theoretical and societal knowledge on the socio-economic, political and security problems that such phenomena bring about. The guiding research question of this thesis is as follows: What does the case of Huachicoleros allow us to understand on the alleged connection between the violence and criminal activity in Mexico and its longstanding neoliberal economic policies (2000-2019)?Show less
Scholars widely agree on what mostly drives fast economic growth from the low-income (LI) level to the middle-income (MI) one. However, when it comes to jumping from the MI level to the high-income...Show moreScholars widely agree on what mostly drives fast economic growth from the low-income (LI) level to the middle-income (MI) one. However, when it comes to jumping from the MI level to the high-income (HI) one, things become far more complex, as severe growth slowdowns become more frequent. This phenomenon, namely: the ‘middle-income trap’ (MIT), refers to the inherent challenges MI countries face in order to reach the HI status. The MIT is present in many comparative studies and policy models as empirical evidence suggests there are shared difficulties present at this level of income, and although it is still an ambiguous and undefined concept, its potential usefulness to guide policy-making is unmistakable, since the idea of a trap can be understood as universally applicable for developing economies struggling to achieve sustainable growth. Three bodies of MIT literature and their respective prescribed set of policies are categorized and analyzed in this study to determine which one can best attributed to the unique and successful case of Chile.Show less
The present work aims at providing more insight into the complex nature of regionalism in Latin America. By determining three variables, presidential diplomacy, ideological convergence and the...Show moreThe present work aims at providing more insight into the complex nature of regionalism in Latin America. By determining three variables, presidential diplomacy, ideological convergence and the absence of regional hegemons, Latin American regional organizations will be assessed. The first chapter will provide an overview of the analytical tools deployed for this analysis. Subsequently, in the second chapter, historical trends will be established by considering the Latin American Free Trade Association (LAFTA) and the Andean Pact. Finally, the influence of the three variables on two contemporary regional organizations, the Pacific Alliance and Mercosur, will be analysed in the third chapter. The hypothesis directing this analysis is as follows: “Presidential diplomacy, ideological convergence and the absence of a regional hegemon have the potential of, or already have had, a negative influence on the Pacific Alliance and Mercosur’s stability and the achievement of their long-term objectives.”Show less
