2. 2012-13 Debate Resolution
RESOLVED:
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SHOULD SUBSTANTIALLY
INCREASE ITS ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT
TOWARD CUBA, MEXICO, OR VENEZUELA
QUIZ: WHEN WERE THE OTHER TIMES
THAT LATIN AMERICA HAS BEEN
DEBATED?
ANSWER: 1987-88 POLITICAL STABILITY
1994-95 IMMIGRATION
3. Implications of topic wording
USFG must be the actor
and determiner of
economic engagement
Question:
What are the current
policies that the USFG
has towards these
countries?
Must know that first
4. Current policies are like the three bears
Cuba
“Papa Bear” (too hard)
No economic
engagement now
Embargo since the mid-
”60’s
5. Policy as the the three bears
Venezuela
“Mama bear” (too soft)
Some
engagement, especially
with oil
With the passing of Hugo
Chavez, some shifting
will take place
6. Policy as the three bears
Mexico
“Baby bear” (Just right)
Although domestically
we have issues, tied
directly with Mexico
Open to significant
relationships
7. What is included in economic engagement?
We could define both “economic” and “engagement”
Why would that not be the best approach?
Answer: Very broad; would allow for a very large
topic and not exclude much of anything
Best is a contextual definition
One that would include “positive incentives to
achieve an objective”
8. What does economic engagement include
Haas & Sullivan with the Brookings Institute in 2000
argued that economic engagement included the
following:
Export credits
Investment insurance or promotion
Access to technology
Loans and economic aid
Removal of penalties such as embargoes, investment
bans, high tariffs
Facilitate entry into global economic arena and
institutions
9. Economic engagement
Arda Celik, professor of international relations at
Uppsala University in 2011 book Economic
Sanctions and Engagement Policies defined as
follows:
The purpose of economic engagement is to “deepen
the economic intersection, interconnectedness and
mutual dependence and finally seeks economic
interdependence. This interdependence serves the
sender state to change the political behavior of target
state.”
10. Other types of engagement
Political
engagement
Diplomatic recognition
Access to regional or
international institutions
Summits between
leaders
Commercial interests
that include people to
people; humanitarian
concerns; historical ties
(extra topical?)
11. Other types of engagement
Military
engagements
Extension of military or
educational training
Human rights among
armed services
Establish relationships
between US and other
foreign military officers
Arms exchanges; offering
security services
12. Other considerations
ALTHOUGH THE TOPIC
REQUIRES USFG
ACTION, IT DOES NOT
SPECIFY ACTION WITH
THE GOVERNMENTS OF
THE TARGET COUNTRIES
13. Learn the Latin America alphabet
NAFTA
ALBA
North America
Bolivarian
Free Trade
Agreement-Agreement
between
Canada, US, and
Mexico
Alternative for the
Americas-Member
countries includes
Venezuela, Cuba, Bol
ivia, Nicaragua, and
island countries in
the Bahamas
14. Latin America Alphabet
CELAC
FTAA
Community of Latin
Free Trade Area of
American and
Caribbean StatesFounded in
2011, includes 33
countries, but excludes
the US & Canada
Founded as an
alternative to the OAS
the Americas
Proposed agreement
to expand to all of the
nations in the
Western Hemisphere
excluding Cuba.
Opposed by members
of ALBA
15. Possible Affirmative Advantages
Hegemony
Oil dependency
Could defend an increase
Energy development of
or decrease in US
leadership and/or
influence; improved
relations with various
countries would increase
soft power
any one of the three
countries would help
with decreasing
dependence on Middle
East sources
16. Possible affirmative advantage areas
Economic growth
Solving social issues
Improving conditions in
any of these countries
would be beneficial to
both the country and the
US in terms of opening
new markets, allowing
for corporate
expansions, and
developing local
economies
Increased engagement
would lead to addressing
other issues such as
immigration, health
care, trafficking in
humans and drugs, and
nuclear proliferation
